West Indies players are departing India on commercial flights after a significant delay. Their planned charter flight to Johannesburg, a crucial leg of their journey home, was cancelled due to international airspace closures amid conflict in the Middle East.
Some players and staff have already left, with others scheduled to depart on Tuesday and Wednesday. The team was eliminated from the Twenty20 World Cup's Super Eight stage on March 1 but remained in India due to repeated delays of their charter flight, which was organized by the International Cricket Council (ICC).
According to the West Indies governing body, CWI, the ICC is responsible for all travel and accommodation arrangements for participating teams in World Cups. CWI stated that ongoing uncertainty surrounding the ICC-organized charter, driven by global tensions and aviation regulations, created a distressing situation.
Coach Daren Sammy and some South African players have voiced frustration, accusing the ICC of leaving them stranded. They highlighted that the England team reportedly returned on a charter flight shortly after their semi-final exit.