West Indies and Zimbabwe remain in India along with the semi-finalists of the World Cup, which will be co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka.
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Published March 3, 2026
The West Indies and Zimbabwe cricket teams and support staff for the 2026 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup are stranded in India, unable to leave the country due to airspace closures and travel disruptions due to the ongoing war in the Middle East.
Both teams were scheduled to complete the tournament on Sunday after the Super Eight stage and return home from India via the United Arab Emirates.
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But thousands of flights were canceled at the busy hubs of Dubai and Abu Dhabi on Saturday after Iran launched missiles and drones across the Gulf region in response to attacks by the United States and Israel.
“The Zimbabwe men’s senior team is safe and well in India,” Zimbabwe Cricket said in a statement late on Monday.
“The team was scheduled to return home via Dubai, but due to developments in the Middle East, major transport routes have been cut off, impacting their travel plans.”
Cricket West Indies said: “We are working closely with the International Cricket Council (ICC), relevant government authorities and our airline partners to ensure safe travel arrangements for the playing squad and support staff as soon as possible.”
The ICC, headquartered in Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE), has suffered damage to its airport and numerous explosions have been reported in recent days.
The World Governing Body for Cricket has announced that it has activated a comprehensive contingency plan to protect everyone involved in the T20 World Cup.
Defending champions and tournament co-hosts India, England, South Africa and New Zealand will remain in India for the semi-finals.
The other host nation, Sri Lanka, played their final match of the tournament in the Super Eight stage, which concluded on Sunday.
South Africa will play New Zealand in the first semi-final on Wednesday at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata, while England will face India at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai on Thursday.
The final will be played in Ahmedabad on Sunday.
