New Delhi, March 2 – The escalating conflict between Iran and Israel has thrown a wrench into cricket schedules, stranding the Zimbabwe national team in India long after their T20 World Cup 2026 campaign ended. Despite bowing out of the tournament, players remain stuck, unable to board flights home due to regional chaos.
Iran’s retaliatory strikes against Israel have targeted multiple Middle Eastern nations, including the UAE. Explosions near Dubai International Airport prompted its immediate closure, disrupting global travel. Zimbabwe’s squad, scheduled for a connecting flight from Dubai on Monday after departing New Delhi, now faces indefinite delays.
Head coach Justin Sammons expressed the team’s frustration: ‘It’s tough for the players to ignore this situation. Everyone was geared up to head home Monday morning. We’ve discussed it internally, but no new updates came until the South Africa match began.’
The team lingers in Delhi, awaiting directives. Alternative routing via Ethiopian Airlines in Addis Ababa is under consideration for players and staff. The ICC stated Saturday it’s arranging backup flights for all post-tournament travelers.
Led by Sikandar Raza, Zimbabwe shone in the group stage, upsetting Australia and Sri Lanka to reach Super 8. However, losses to West Indies, India, and South Africa ended their run. Now, geopolitical tensions have extended their stay, highlighting cricket’s vulnerability to world events.