Gulf War Travel Chaos: Zimbabwe Team Finally Leave India After Delay

The Sikandar Raza-led senior men's team is returning home after competing in the Men's T20 World Cup in India, according to Zimbabwe Cricket (ZC) on Wednesday. The International Cricket Council (ICC) arranged a different route for them after transit issues delayed their initial plans. After losing to South Africa by five wickets in the Super Eights match on Sunday at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in New Delhi, Zimbabwe's tournament concluded. Beginning about 4:30 a.m. on Monday, they were scheduled to return home in three groups. They were supposed to go to Dubai on Emirates planes from New Delhi, followed by another trip to Harare.

The crew had to remain in India and wait a little longer to come home since the air traffic at the Dubai airport, which is normally halted for a flight back to Harare, was suspended for commercial operations. In the evening on Wednesday, March 4, Zimbabwe Cricket (ZC) formally announced the players' departure from the host country to Harare.

Zimbabwe Team Finally Flies Home:

In a statement, ZC confirmed, "Zimbabwe Cricket (ZC) 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. 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. Further updates will be issued if necessary."

In order to catch connecting flights to their respective hometowns, the match officials who were not required for the showpiece event's knockout stages were considering choosing Addis Ababa as the transit point rather than Dubai, the ICC official had informed this news agency on Sunday.

Due to the Middle East's airspace ban, the West Indies, except Zimbabwe, were compelled to delay their departure from India after their competition concluded following the Super Eights in Kolkata.

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