A batch of Zimbabwe's cricket team has left for home after being stranded in India due to closure of airspace in the middle-east due to conflict between Iran and Israel, USA. Zimbabwe's T20 World Cup 2026 campaign came to an end on March 1 (Sunday) but they were unable to fly back home due to recent transit disruptions that have affected several countries.
On March 4, Zimbabwe Cricket said that the team will go back home in batches. The rest of the group will leave on March 6.
"Zimbabwe Cricket confirms that the Zimbabwe senior men's team participating in the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026 are on their way home from India after the International Cricket Council secured alternative travel arrangements following recent transit disruptions," the board said in a statement on 'X'.
"Due to flight availability and revised routing, the squad will return to Harare in batches. The first group of players departed India today, Wednesday, while the final group is scheduled to leave on Friday afternoon," it added.
Earlier, Zimbabwe were expected to fly back home via Dubai on an Emirates flight. As a result of unrest in the Gulf region, they were stuck in Delhi. Now, they are leaving for Harare via Adis Ababa, Ethiopia.
Similarly, the West Indies team has been stuck in India after their campaign came to an end with a loss to co-hosts in the virtual quarterfinal clash at Eden Gardens, Kolkata.
Zimbabwe’s impressive T20 World Cup campaign
Zimbabwe team couldn’t win a single game in the Super 8 but they stunned in the group stage. On Sri Lankan soil, they excelled by beating the co-hosts and the mighty Australians. They practically pushed Australia to the brink of elimination with their second T20 World Cup win against them.
Their in-form opener, Brian Bennett, bowed out of the T20 World Cup as the second-highest run-scorer, closely followed by New Zealand opener Finn Allen (289 runs). From six innings, he scored 292 runs at an average of 146 and strike rate of 134.56. He registered an unbeaten 97 in the successful run chase against India.
Zimbabwe skipper Raza impressed too with the bat, scoring 206 runs from six innings at an average of 51.50 and strike rate of 164.80. He scored a fifty against South Africa.
In the bowling department, Blessing Muzarabani is currently the joint-leading wicket-taker. From six games, he claimed 13 wickets at an average of 14.46, including a four-fer against Australia.