After weeks of uncertainty, West Indies, South Africa, and England cricket teams are finally set to depart India following their exit from the T20 World Cup 2026 Super 8 stage. Special charter flights arranged by the ICC will ferry these squads back home, marking the end of a tense wait triggered by regional flight restrictions.
England, the two-time champions, will board their flight from Mumbai on Saturday evening, heading straight to London. Meanwhile, West Indies – winners in 2012 and 2016 – and South Africa will share a separate charter from Kolkata, first touching down in Johannesburg before West Indies proceeds to Antigua.
The delay stemmed from heightened tensions in the Middle East after US and Israeli strikes on Iran, imposing blanket bans on flights over the region since early March. West Indies had hoped to leave immediately after their Super 8 loss to India on March 1 in Kolkata, but safety concerns grounded them for a full week.
South Africa faced a similar fate post their March 4 semi-final defeat to New Zealand in Kolkata, while England remained stuck in Mumbai after losing the second semi-final to India on March 5. Players expressed growing frustration, with West Indies head coach Darren Sammy posting ‘Day 6’ on X to highlight their prolonged stay, and spinner Akeal Hosein humorously pleading for Cristiano Ronaldo’s intervention.
ICC officials worked tirelessly behind the scenes to secure these bespoke travel solutions. While exact departure times remain fluid, sources indicate Sunday as the likely date. For context, Zimbabwe’s team, also stranded in New Delhi, was rerouted via Addis Ababa and reached Harare on Thursday.
This episode underscores the geopolitical ripple effects on global sports, forcing organizers to pivot swiftly amid extraordinary circumstances. As these teams reunite with families and regroup for future battles, fans breathe a sigh of relief knowing their heroes are safely en route home.