Zimbabwe has become the first team in the ongoing T20 World Cup 2026 to face travel disruption, remaining stranded in India after their final match against South Africa on Sunday.
Tournament organisers are urgently exploring alternative flights to return Zimbabwe and other affected teams safely after widespread West Asian airspace closures disrupted multiple international airlines.
ESPNcricinfo reports that Zimbabwe’s contingent was scheduled to depart in batches, with some players leaving Delhi at 4:30am on Monday, while the remainder were planned to follow later on the same day.
The team had been booked on Emirates flights, routing from Delhi through Dubai before continuing onward to Harare, but organisers are considering alternative airlines and transit hubs for the complete journey.
When asked about the travel situation, Zimbabwe coach Justin Sammons confirmed no clarity had been provided, adding the team remained focused entirely on their final match and had received no updates.
Pakistan, eliminated after their final Super Eight game on Saturday, returned to Lahore from Colombo using a Sri Lankan Airlines flight, avoiding any delays despite the ongoing disruption affecting regional airspace.
The airspace closure follows missile strikes exchanged between the USA, Israel, and Iran, prompting authorities to suspend flights across several West Asian countries and forcing airlines to cancel or reroute services.
The ICC said it has been closely monitoring the situation, activating comprehensive contingency plans to safeguard travel, logistics, and well-being of all players, officials, and personnel at the tournament.
The governing body acknowledged that many teams, officials, and broadcast crews rely heavily on Gulf hub airports, particularly Dubai, for onward travel after completing their commitments at the T20 World Cup.
ICC travel and security teams are coordinating with airlines and authorities, finding alternative European and Asian routes, issuing real-time advisories, and running a dedicated Travel Support Desk for affected personnel.
