Jay Shah, South African players (Source: AFP)
The International Cricket Council (ICC) has confirmed that members of the South African contingent at the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 will begin departing India. South Africa, led by captain Aiden Markram, were eliminated from the tournament on March 4 at the historic Eden Gardens in Kolkata.
Despite their early exit, the majority of the squad remained stranded in the city for several days due to major disruptions in international air travel.
In a statement released on Wednesday, the ICC said that travel arrangements had finally been secured and that players and staff would start leaving India on Wednesday evening.
The governing body added that all members of the South African contingent are expected to depart within the next 36 hours.
Players voice frustration over delayed travel from ICC
The delay caused frustration among several South African players, who publicly questioned why other teams appeared to leave earlier. Wicketkeeper-batter Quinton de Kock posted on social media expressing confusion over the situation.
He wrote that South Africa and the West Indies had not received clear communication, while the England team had already managed to fly home shortly after their semifinal defeat to India.
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De Kock wrote on Instagram: "Funny @icc, we have heard nothing! Meanwhile, England are leaving before us somehow? @westindies and @proteasmencsa are just in the dark! Strange how different teams have more pull than others."
South African star David Miller also wrote similar concerns, saying it was surprising that England, who were eliminated later than both South Africa and the West Indies, were able to return earlier, while the other teams remained stuck in Kolkata waiting for updates.
"Funny that England gets eliminated after WI & SA and gets on a charter back home tonight, while WI & SA still wait for answers in Kolkata." - David Miller
ICC blames Middle East crisis for travel disruptions
The ICC explained that the delays were caused by a major crisis across the Gulf region, which has significantly affected international flight operations.
According to the governing body, airspace closures, missile warnings, and frequent changes to flight routes have disrupted commercial and charter flights across several international routes connecting India with other regions.
“The ICC rejects any suggestion that these decisions have been driven by anything other than safety, feasibility and welfare. Suggestions otherwise across a variety of media platforms from people uninformed of the situation are as unhelpful as they are incorrect," ICC said.
"There is no link between arrangements made in the cases of South Africa and the West Indies and those made previously for England or any other nation, which arose from separate circumstances, routing options and different travel conditions," the ICC said.
"These are conditions entirely outside the ICC's control, and they have made each travel solution significantly more complex and time-consuming than under normal circumstances," the ICC said.
The ICC also said it has been working closely with airlines, charter operators, airport authorities, and government agencies to ensure safe travel for all affected players, staff, and their families.
West Indies contingent also preparing to depart
The travel delays also affected members of the West Indies squad, who had remained in Kolkata since their Super Eight exit from the tournament on March 1.
The ICC confirmed that nine members of the West Indies team have already begun travelling back to the Caribbean. The remaining 16 members are scheduled to depart India within the next 24 hours.
Cricket authorities initially attempted to arrange a charter flight for both South Africa and the West Indies, but repeated disruptions forced officials to switch to commercial flights.
Despite the frustration among players, the ICC insisted that no team had been given priority over another.
The ICC added that its main priority throughout the situation has been the safety and welfare of players, support staff and families travelling with them.
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