The ICC on Wednesday condemned “uninformed and unhelpful” claims that “anything other than safety” is driving the travel plans that have been derailed by the West Asia crisis while expressing compassion for the international players stuck in India following the T20 World Cup.
Flight plans are in disarray due to the closure of the airspace above the Gulf caused by the war, which started with the American and Israeli bombing of Iran last month.
The ICC stated that while it sympathizes with the players who are stranded, particularly those from South Africa and the West Indies, “safety, feasibility, and welfare” of the teams are being carefully addressed while devising other routes.
The ICC provided information about the travel itinerary, stating that all members are anticipated to depart within the next 36 hours. The South African contingent will start leaving for home on Wednesday night.
According to the ICC, nine West Indies players have already departed, and the remaining sixteen are scheduled to depart India on commercial aircraft within the next 24 hours.
This came after logistical problems forced the cancellation of their charter flight that was supposed to depart from Kolkata.
Former England captain Michael Vaughan criticized the ICC, and South African player David Miller implied that England players received superior travel arrangements because they could go within a day of being eliminated in the semifinals. Darren Sammy, the coach of the West Indies, had already voiced his dissatisfaction with the international body’s lack of information.
The ICC retaliated without giving particular names.
“The ICC rejects any suggestion that these decisions have been driven by anything other than safety, feasibility and welfare. Suggestions otherwise across a variety of media platforms from people uninformed of the situation are as unhelpful as they are incorrect,” said cricket’s world governing body.
“There is no link between arrangements made in the cases of South Africa and the West Indies and those made previously for England or any other nation, which arose from separate circumstances, routing options and different travel conditions,” it added.
On March 1 and 4, respectively, the West Indies and South Africa played their last matches in Kolkata. Due to the closure of Dubai airspace, Emirates, an airline partner of the ICC, is unable to operate.
“We understand that players, coaches, support staff and their families who have completed their ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 campaigns are anxious to return home. That they have not yet been able to do so is a source of genuine frustration, and the International Cricket Council shares that frustration,” the world body said.
“The delay is the direct result of the ongoing crisis across the Gulf region, which has caused widespread and continuing disruption to international air travel, including airspace closures, missile warnings, re-routing constraints, as well as the cancellation and rescheduling of both commercial and charter flights at short notice,” it added.
The ICC stated that every travel option has become much more “complex and time-consuming than under normal circumstances” as a result of the current, uncontrollable scenario. In order to guarantee that every player returns home safely, the ICC stated that it is still in contact with travel agencies and airlines.
“Throughout this period, the ICC’s overriding priority has been the safety and welfare of everyone affected, including players travelling with spouses and young children. We will not move people until we are satisfied that the travel solution in place is safe, and that commitment will not change,” it said.
In light of the changing circumstances in West Asia, the ICC also asked the relevant cricket boards and players to exercise patience as it looks for the appropriate options.
“Our teams are working around the clock and remain in constant contact with team managers as circumstances continue to develop. We will continue to provide updates as the situation evolves.”
