After an arduous wait, the West Indies cricket team and its staff successfully embarked on their journey back home after spending time in India for the T20 World Cup. The team faced significant challenges due to travel restrictions caused by escalating tensions in West Asia, resulting in closed airspace and canceled flights that kept them in Kolkata longer than anticipated. New Delhi, West Indies players and support staff have returned home safely after being stranded in India following the T20 World Cup due to travel disruptions caused by conflict in West Asia, Cricket West Indies (CWI) said.The ongoing US-Israel-Iran war has thrown travel plans into disarray, with the West Indies and South African teams stranded in Kolkata due to the closure of airspace and airports at major transit points such as Dubai.
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West Indies played their last T20 World Cup matches in Kolkata on 1 March.The ICC announced on Thursday that the final batch of players had left.In a statement on Saturday, the CWI confirmed that all players and members of the Team Management Unit (TMU) who were part of the West Indies squad for the tournament have completed their journeys and achieved their respective destinations.“The final batch of players and support staff have completed their journeys over the past few days and have now arrived safely at their destinations,” CWI said.While nine West Indies players left earlier this week, the remaining 16 were booked on commercial flights.The CWI thanked the ICC, regional cricket boards and other stakeholders for their assistance in coordinating the return of players and staff.“We also thank the West Indies fans and the wider cricket community for their interest and well wishes,” he said.“The well-being and safety of our players and staff remains paramount and we are grateful that the matter has now been brought to a safe and satisfactory conclusion.” The travel chaos drew criticism from some players with West Indies head coach Daren Sammy expressing frustration at the lack of updates from the ICC after a charter flight from Kolkata was canceled due to logistical issues. PTI
