The International Cricket Council (ICC) has successfully facilitated the return of the last groups from South Africa and the West Indies, who were stranded in India after the 2026 T20 World Cup. The remaining members from South Africa, totaling 29, and the final 16 members from the West Indies have departed for their respective countries within the past 24 hours. This concludes a challenging operation conducted under difficult global travel conditions.
Throughout this period, the ICC’s operations and logistics teams worked closely with various entities such as governments, airlines, charter providers, airport authorities, and member boards to address operational disruptions caused by the challenging travel conditions worldwide. The primary focus was on ensuring the safe return of all players and staff, with continuous adjustments made as the situation evolved.
Acknowledging the support received, the ICC expressed gratitude to Cricket South Africa, Cricket West Indies, their squads, and the dedicated ICC staff who worked tirelessly to facilitate the safe journeys home for all players, staff, and their families. Earlier, four South African players and five family members had already departed, with the remaining 29 members expected to leave within the next 24 hours. Similarly, nine members of the West Indies team had left for the Caribbean, while the remaining 16 were set to depart India within the next 12 hours.
The delay in repatriation was attributed to the crisis in the Gulf region, leading to widespread disruptions in international air travel, including airspace closures, missile alerts, rerouting challenges, and sudden flight cancellations or rescheduling. The ICC emphasized that these were circumstances beyond their control, significantly complicating and prolonging the travel solutions under the current conditions.
