A chartered flight arranged to take the West Indies and South Africa cricket teams from Kolkata was canceled on Tuesday due to airspace clearance issues, leaving both teams stranded in the city without a confirmed route home.
The flight was scheduled for the teams to fly to Johannesburg, from where the West Indies players and support staff would continue on to Antigua. The cancellation deepened an already difficult situation for the two teams, which have been stuck in Kolkata since their World T20 Cup ended earlier this month.
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FULL FOR DAYS
West Indies were in Kolkata eight days after their Super Eight defeat to India at the Eden Gardens on 1 March. South Africa, who lost the semi-final at the same venue on 4 March, were also unable to leave.
Escalating tensions in West Asia have prompted widespread airspace closures across the region, disrupting flight paths and leaving both teams with limited options.
According to sources within the ICC and BCCI, 12 West Indies players and 10 support staff members remain in the city along with 12 South African players and 2 support staff.
With the charter flight now cancelled, many players have started making their own individual travel arrangements, although even these are dependent on airspace clearance being granted.
The International Cricket Council (ICC) and Cricket West Indies (CWI) are working together to find alternative solutions, but no confirmed exit has been announced.
HOPEFUL FOR A WAY OUT
West Indies, led by Shai Hope, have come to India for the 2026 FIFA World Cup T20 with ambitions of a deep run in the tournament. Their campaign ended at the Super Eight stage after their defeat to India at the Eden Gardens. They have now spent more time in Kolkata than in the knockout rounds of the tournament.
The situation in South Africa is no different. A semi-final exit at the same venue left them in the same position, waiting for a window to open in an increasingly complicated airspace situation.
For both teams, Kolkata turned out to be an unexpected and extended final stop on a World Cup journey that ended much sooner than either would have hoped. Until the situation in the airspace improves, neither team has any choice but to wait.
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Issued by:
Amar Panicker
Published on:
10 March 2026 14:38 IST
