Missile attack and ban on international flights: Players unable to go home after T20 World Cup, Zimbabwe found a middle path!

Kolkata. After being out of the ICC T20 World Cup, West Indies players are stuck in Kolkata for the fifth consecutive day as their travel is facing problems due to the restrictions imposed on international flights following the attacks on Iran by America and Israel. Although a special flight has been arranged to send the West Indies team, but according to local sources, the final approval of air traffic is awaited.

An official of the Bengal Cricket Association told PTI, ‘Information about the departure of both the West Indies and South Africa teams is still awaited.’ The official said that four South African players can go to New Zealand on Friday night for the next series, but official information is awaited. The West Indies team was out of the T20 World Cup after losing to India by five wickets. South Africa’s journey also ended with defeat by New Zealand in the first semi-final on Wednesday.

South Africa team has to play a five-match T20 series in New Zealand from March 15. It is not clear yet when the rest of the South African team will leave Kolkata. Cricket West Indies had confirmed on Thursday that special flights are being arranged to send the team home as the team has been stuck in the city for more than four days due to the ban on international flights in the Gulf region. In his statement he said, ‘It was decided in the high level meeting that a special flight is being arranged to send the team from India and the flight is expected in the next 24 hours.

Cricket West Indies, ICC officials, team management and players’ representatives were involved in this meeting. He also said that the flight time will depend on air traffic approval. It said, ‘The team is safe and all preparations are being completed.’ Hours before the incident, West Indies head coach Darren Sammy had expressed his displeasure over the delay on social media and wrote that he ‘just wants to go home’. Later on receiving the update he wrote, ‘Update received.

This was just what the West Indies needed. It is also possible that some West Indies players stay in India so that they can join their respective IPL teams. IPL is going to start at the end of this month. Rovman Powell is part of Kolkata Knight Riders, whose camp will start from March 18. Sherfane Rutherford plays for Mumbai Indians. Shimron Hetmyer is part of Rajasthan Royals.

Romario Shepherd is with Royal Challengers Bangalore and the team’s training is expected to start from March 15. For this reason, Zimbabwe players stranded in India have now started returning home in groups after the International Cricket Council made arrangements for alternative travel via Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.