New Delhi, March 5 A group of Zimbabwean cricketers, stranded in Delhi due to the closure of airspace in the Gulf region, departed for home after their T20 World Cup campaign ended. This was arranged by the ICC to avoid sending the team through the conflict-ridden region.
Zimbabwe, who had a successful T20 World Cup, defeating Australia and Sri Lanka to reach the Super Eights, were unable to progress further and were eliminated last week.
They were originally scheduled to depart on March 2, but were stranded in Delhi due to the closure of airspace in the Gulf region following US and Israeli strikes on Iran. The first group of players finally departed for home on Wednesday via alternative flights.
"Zimbabwe Cricket confirms that the Zimbabwe senior men's team participating in the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026 are on their way home from India after the International Cricket Council secured alternative travel arrangements following recent transit disruptions," the board said in a statement on 'X'.
"Due to flight availability and revised routing, the squad will return to Harare in batches. The first group of players departed India today, Wednesday, while the final group is scheduled to leave on Friday afternoon," it added.
Zimbabwe's original travel route was via Dubai on an Emirates flight, but this had to be altered. It has been learned that Zimbabwe are now travelling to Harare via Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
The West Indies cricket team was also stranded in India for the same reason, but there has been no update on its travel plans yet.
