West Indies, Zimbabwe unable to return from India after T20 World Cup exit due to Middle East airspace closures
The West Indies and Zimbabwe teams said on Monday they have delayed their return from India after their exit from the T20 World Cup 2026 due to international airspace closures amid ongoing conflict in the Middle East.
West Indies failed to reach the semifinals after Sunday’s five-wicket loss to host India, while Zimbabwe was eliminated after losing all three of its Super Eights matches.
However, neither team could travel back as thousands of flights were cancelled in countries across the Gulf, disrupting some of the world’s busiest transit hubs, as conflict escalated between Iran and the U.S. and Israel.
ALSO READ | Not perfect, but unyielding: India’s night of resolve
“The Zimbabwe men’s team remains safe and well in India… the squad was scheduled to return home via Dubai,” Zimbabwe Cricket said in a social media post.
Cricket West Indies (CWI) said it was working with the sport’s global body (ICC) to make safe travel arrangements for the players and staff.
The ICC, headquartered in Dubai, earlier said that it had activated contingency plans for its personnel, who were scheduled to transit through Dubai for onward travel to their home countries.
“The safety and well-being of our players, coaches, and officials remain our highest priority,” CWI added
Published on Mar 03, 2026
