The West Indies team has finally secured a path home after being stranded for more than four days due to significant regional instability. A specialised charter flight has been arranged to evacuate the squad, providing a resolution to a tense period of uncertainty for the players and coaching staff.
The team's departure was delayed by sudden international airspace restrictions, which were implemented following military strikes by the United States and Israel against Iran. These geopolitical tensions led to widespread flight cancellations and the closure of key travel corridors, leaving the Caribbean side temporarily stuck in the city until a safe flight path could be established.
"A charter has been arranged for the West Indies to fly home," a source told PTI on Thursday.
"Got an update. That's all WI wanted," Sammy tweeted.
The decision to arrange a charter flight came just hours after head coach Daren Sammy took to social media to voice the team's growing frustration. The West Indies squad had been in a state of limbo following their Super Eight exit against India in Kolkata on Sunday, unable to secure a route out of the region due to the sudden disruption of flight operations across the Gulf.
Sammy’s public appeals highlighted the mental toll of the four-day delay. His initial post on X was a simple, heartfelt plea stating, "I just wanna go home," which quickly drew attention to the team's predicament. As the hours passed without a resolution, the former captain followed up with a second post, urgently seeking clear communication and a definitive timeline regarding their travel arrangements.
"At least an update, tell us something. Today, tmw, next week. It's been 5 days," Sammy wrote.
Due to the ongoing volatility in the Gulf region, many West Indies players have opted to remain in India rather than risk further travel complications. This decision aligns conveniently with the upcoming domestic schedule, as several Indian Premier League (IPL) franchises are preparing to launch their pre-season training camps in the next few weeks.
The list of players staying back includes high-profile names across various teams. Rovman Powell is expected to join the Kolkata Knight Riders ahead of their March 18 start date, while Sherfane Rutherford will remain with the Mumbai Indians. Additionally, Shimron Hetmyer of the Rajasthan Royals and Romario Shepherd of Royal Challengers Bengaluru will be staying put, with the latter's franchise scheduled to begin official training on March 15.
While the logistical shift is significant, local authorities are keeping their distance from the arrangements. An official from the Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB) clarified that the International Cricket Council (ICC) is directly managing the situation and coordinating the players' movements during this transition.
Members of the Zimbabwe national team have also begun their journey home after being stranded in India due to the same regional flight disruptions. The International Cricket Council (ICC) intervened to resolve the situation by securing alternative travel routes through Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, bypassing the restricted airspace in the Gulf.
According to a statement from Zimbabwe Cricket, the squad is returning to Harare in staggered groups due to flight availability. The first batch of players departed on Wednesday, while the remaining members of the contingent are scheduled to leave India by Friday afternoon.
This brings a close to a tense few days for the team, who were originally set to depart on March 2 via Dubai following their exit from the T20 World Cup. Despite the logistical challenges, the players made the most of their extended stay, with many seen participating in local Holi celebrations in Delhi before their new travel plans were finalized.