Zimbabwe stranded in India as Middle East airspace closure disrupts T20 World Cup travel plans

Zimbabwe have become the first team at the T20 World Cup 2026 to be impacted by the closure of airspaces in the Middle East, and will now remain in India for the foreseeable future following their final match against South Africa on Sunday. Tournament organisers are currently exploring alternative travel arrangements to ensure the team, along with other departing squads, can return home safely after completing their campaigns in India and Sri Lanka.

According to ESPNcricinfo, the Zimbabwe contingent had originally planned to depart in batches. Some members were scheduled to leave as early as 4:30 am on Monday, with the remaining players and staff set to follow later in the day. The team had been booked on Emirates flights, travelling from Delhi to Dubai before connecting onward to Harare. It is understood that officials are now assessing other airlines and alternative routes to facilitate their return journey.

"No, not that I've heard of. When we started the game there wasn't anything. And now we've just been focused on the game, so I've not heard anything since,” said Zimbabwe head coach Justin Sammons as quoted by ESPNcricinfo.

Meanwhile, Pakistan, who were knocked out after their final Super Eight fixture on Saturday, have successfully returned to Lahore from Colombo via a SriLankan Airlines flight. In an official statement, the ICC said it is closely monitoring the developing situation and has activated comprehensive contingency plans to ensure the travel, logistics, and overall well-being of all stakeholders involved in the T20 World Cup.

"While the crisis in the Middle East has no direct bearing on the conduct of the tournament, the ICC acknowledges that a significant number of personnel - including players, team management, match officials, broadcast teams, and event staff - rely on Gulf hub airports, particularly Dubai (DXB), as key transit points for onward travel to their home countries upon concluding their commitments at the event," the ICC said in a statement,” the ICC said in a statement.

"The ICC 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,” it added.