The final groups of South Africa national cricket team and West Indies cricket team players stranded in India after the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 have departed for their home countries, the International Cricket Council said Thursday, March 12, 2026. The teams’ travel plans were affected by airspace closures across parts of West Asia following escalating tensions involving the United States, Israel and Iran.
South Africa and West Indies played their final matches of the tournament in Kolkata on March 4 and March 1 respectively and remained stranded in the city due to the travel disruptions.
Earlier this week, nine West Indies players were able to leave India, while the remaining 16 departed on commercial flights over the past 24 hours. A 29-member South African contingent has also now left the country.
“Within the past 24 hours, South Africa’s remaining 29 members and the West Indies’ final 16 members have departed on flights to their respective homelands, bringing to a close a complex operation that has taken place under exceptionally challenging global travel conditions,” the ICC said in a statement.
The governing body said ensuring safe onward travel for players and staff remained the top priority during the disruptions. “Throughout this period, the ICC’s operations and logistics teams have worked continuously with governments, airlines, charter providers, airport authorities and our Member boards to navigate a number of operational disruptions caused by the evolving environment. Securing safe onward travel for all remaining players and staff was our sole aim and required constant adjustments as conditions changed,” the statement added.
The travel situation had earlier drawn criticism from several players and former cricketers. Former England captain Michael Vaughan and South Africa players Quinton de Kock and David Miller questioned the arrangements after England cricket team players were able to leave India within a day of their semifinal exit.
West Indies head coach Daren Sammy had also expressed frustration after a charter flight scheduled from Kolkata was cancelled due to logistical issues.
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