Kolkata: The West Indies cricket team remains stranded in India days after their exit from the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, with head coach Darren Sammy voicing frustration over the lack of clarity regarding their return journey. The Caribbean side has been stuck in the city since their Super 8 elimination, as escalating geopolitical tensions in West Asia have disrupted global aviation routes and led to widespread flight cancellations.
Sammy publicly expressed his concerns on social media platform X, highlighting the anxiety and uncertainty among players and staff who have been waiting for updates on their travel plans.
“I just wanna go home,” Sammy wrote in a post on Wednesday, capturing the mood within the camp. He added that the squad had been waiting for nearly five days without clear communication from tournament organisers or travel authorities.
“At least an update, tell us something. Today, tomorrow, next week. It’s been 5 days,” he wrote, underscoring the frustration building among players who had expected to return home soon after their elimination from the tournament.
Tournament exit followed by unexpected travel crisis
The West Indies had entered the tournament with strong momentum, remaining unbeaten during the group stages and emerging as one of the favourites for the title. However, their campaign took a downturn in the Super 8 phase, where defeats to South Africa national cricket team and India national cricket team resulted in their elimination from the competition.
What was supposed to be a routine journey back home soon turned into a complicated logistical challenge. The team had initially planned to fly via the Middle East, a common transit route for international travel between South Asia and the Caribbean.
However, the sudden closure of major air routes in the region disrupted those plans.
West Asian tensions disrupt global aviation
The travel disruption stems from escalating tensions involving Iran, following a series of military strikes and retaliatory actions that have affected several parts of West Asian airspace. The situation forced authorities to shut down key airports and restrict air traffic in certain corridors.
Among the facilities affected is Dubai International Airport, one of the busiest global transit hubs and a crucial connecting point for flights between Asia, Europe and the Americas.
With the closure of this hub and restrictions across neighbouring airspace, airlines cancelled or rerouted thousands of flights worldwide. This ripple effect disrupted travel plans for multiple international teams participating in the tournament.
As a result, several players and officials found themselves stranded while authorities worked to find alternative routes.
Zimbabwe team finds alternative route
While the West Indies continue to wait for clarity, the Zimbabwe national cricket team faced a similar challenge but managed to secure an alternate route with assistance from the International Cricket Council.
Their original flight via Dubai was cancelled, prompting the ICC to arrange an alternative travel plan through Addis Ababa in Ethiopia.
Zimbabwe Cricket confirmed that players would return home in batches.
“The squad will return to Harare in batches. The first group departed today, while the final group is scheduled to leave on Friday afternoon,” the board said in a statement quoted by PTI.
The successful arrangement raised questions about why a similar plan has not yet been finalised for the West Indies squad.
Growing frustration within the Caribbean camp
For the West Indies players, the extended delay has created logistical and emotional strain. Many had already completed their tournament commitments and were expecting to travel home immediately after the Super 8 stage concluded.
Instead, the team has been forced into an indefinite waiting period with limited information on possible flight options.
Travel disruptions of this scale are rare in international cricket tournaments, where logistics are usually planned months in advance and managed centrally by governing bodies.
The lack of communication highlighted by Sammy has added to the uncertainty, as players and staff remain unsure whether they will be able to leave in the coming days or face a longer delay.
ICC yet to confirm travel plan
So far, tournament officials have not released an official update regarding alternative travel arrangements for the West Indies team. Aviation authorities and airlines are continuing to monitor the evolving situation in West Asia, and flight schedules remain unpredictable.
Sports administrators are reportedly exploring alternate routes that avoid restricted airspace, but such arrangements require coordination between airlines, government authorities and tournament organisers.
Until those plans are finalised, the West Indies squad will remain in a holding pattern despite their tournament journey having ended days ago.
For Darren Sammy and his players, the cricketing challenge of the World Cup may be over, but another unexpected test — getting home — still lies ahead.