Dubai, February 28 The International Cricket Council (ICC) said on Saturday that it is working on alternative flight plans for players and officials returning from the T20 World Cup in India and Sri Lanka, amid the disruption caused by the US strikes on Iran.
The T20 tournament, which began on February 7, will conclude on March 8, and featured 20 teams, of which six remain in contention, including co-hosts India.
"The safety and well-being of every individual involved in our event is the ICC's top priority. We have already mobilized our travel, logistics, and security teams, and we are working around the clock to ensure that all stakeholders can return home safely with minimal disruption," the ICC spokesperson said in a statement.
"We would also urge fans who have travelled or were planning to travel for the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026 to closely monitor the situation and adhere to the advisories being issued, and to consider all factors before undertaking any further international travel."
The US and Israel launched a major offensive on Iran on Saturday, with American President Donald Trump calling on the Iranian public to overthrow the Islamic leadership that has ruled the nation since 1979.
The ICC acknowledged that a significant number of personnel – including players, team management, match officials, broadcast teams, and event staff – rely on Gulf hub airports, particularly Dubai, as key transit points for onward travel to their home countries upon concluding their commitments at the event.
The military strikes have led to the closure of airspace in the Gulf region and have caused disruption to several flights, including Emirates and Air India.
Air India has cancelled all its flights to and from the Gulf region, mainly to Abu Dhabi, Dammam, Doha, Dubai, Jeddah, Muscat, Riyadh, and Tel Aviv, Israel, the airline said in a statement posted on 'X'.
Considering these factors, the ICC said its 'travel and logistics' team is actively working with major international carriers to identify and secure alternative routing options, including connections through European, South Asian, and South-East Asian hubs.
"The ICC security consultants are liaising with relevant authorities and will provide real-time advisories as the situation develops. A dedicated ICC Travel Support Desk has also been activated," the game's apex body said in the statement.
The ICC said it will continue to issue updates as the situation evolves, adding that it "remains committed to the smooth and safe conclusion" of the T20 World Cup 2026.
