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Zimbabwe, West Indies return delayed from India [Source: X.com]
In a major development, the return of Zimbabwe and West Indies from India has been delayed due to rising tensions in the Middle East.
Although both teams had completed their journey in the T20 World Cup 2026, they are now unable to travel back home due to international airspace closures caused by the ongoing conflict in the Gulf region.
ICC monitoring Middle-East conflict
On Saturday, the ICC said it has activated contingency plans for its staff and other personnel. Many players, officials, and broadcast teams depend on Gulf airports, especially Dubai International Airport, as key transit points.
Therefore, the ICC Travel and Logistics team is now working with major airlines to find alternative routes through Europe, South Asia, and Southeast Asia. The ICC also mentioned that its security consultants are in constant touch with authorities and are providing real-time updates
Zimbabwe, West Indies departure postponed
It is important to note that West Indies and Zimbabwe confirmed on Monday that their departure from India had been postponed. This happened after several countries in West Asia shut down their airspace following missile strikes and military action involving Iran, Israel, and the United States.
As a result, thousands of flights were cancelled, especially in major transit hubs like Dubai, which many international passengers use for connecting flights.
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West Indies' performance in T20 World Cup 2026
Notably, the West Indies were knocked out of the T20 World Cup after losing to India by five wickets in their final Super Eight match at Eden Gardens in Kolkata. Even though they performed well in the league stage, they could not qualify for the semi-finals.
In that match, the Caribbean side scored 195/4 with strong performances from Roston Chase, Shai Hope, Shimron Hetmyer, Jason Holder, and Rovman Powell. However, India successfully chased the target, thanks to key innings from Sanju Samson, Suryakumar Yadav, and Tilak Varma.
Meanwhile, Zimbabwe were eliminated earlier after losing all three of its Super Eight matches, including their final clash against South Africa in New Delhi.
Although their T20 World Cup 2026 campaigns ended on the field, their travel troubles began soon after. Zimbabwe’s team was scheduled to return home via Dubai, but the conflict in the Middle East disrupted those plans. At the same time, the West Indies squad remains in Kolkata as they wait for a safe travel arrangement.
West Indies, Zimbabwe unable to return
Cricket West Indies (CWI) released an official statement explaining the situation.
“The safety and well-being of our players, coaches, and officials remain our highest priority,” CWI said. Furthermore, the board added, "These restrictions are a direct result of the security threats posed by military action in the Gulf Region, which has impacted several international flight routes and required airlines to adjust scheduled services for safety reasons."
The board also confirmed that it is working closely with the International Cricket Council (ICC), government authorities, and airline partners to arrange alternative travel plans.
Similarly, Zimbabwe Cricket reassured fans through social media by stating, “The Zimbabwe men’s team remains safe and well in India... the squad was scheduled to return home via Dubai.” This statement helped calm concerns about the players’ safety.
Although the Middle East crisis has not directly affected the T20 World Cup itself, it has significantly impacted travel arrangements. For now, both teams are safe and being looked after in India, and officials are closely monitoring the situation until normal flight operations resume.
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