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ICC readies contingency plans for T20 WC as US-Iran conflict impacts Dubai, to provide real-time advisories to teams

The ICC has activated contingency plans to ensure the safety and well-being of stakeholders during the Men's T20 World Cup 2026 in India and Sri Lanka.

Updated on: Feb 28, 2026, 18:38:39 IST
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The ICC said on Saturday that it has activated contingency plans to protect the travel, logistics and well-being of stakeholders at the ongoing Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 in India and Sri Lanka, even as it stressed that tensions in the Middle East have no direct impact on the tournament’s conduct. The governing body issued the statement as a formal media release on its official website on 28 February 2026.

ICC chairman, Jay Shah (PTI)
ICC chairman, Jay Shah (PTI)

In the release, the ICC said it is closely monitoring the evolving situation and has mobilised travel, logistics and security teams to minimise disruption, particularly for personnel who depend on Gulf transit hubs for onward travel after completing their tournament duties. The ICC specifically noted Dubai International Airport as a key transit point for many stakeholders.

According to the ICC, those potentially affected include players, team management staff, match officials, broadcast crews and event personnel. While the tournament itself remains on track in the two host nations, the governing body acknowledged that outbound travel planning may need to be adjusted if regional conditions affect regular air routes through the Gulf.

An ICC spokesperson said the safety and well-being of everyone connected to the event remains the organisation’s highest priority and added that teams were working around the clock to ensure stakeholders can return home safely with as little disruption as possible. The statement also urged fans who have travelled or are planning to travel for the tournament to closely monitor advisories and consider all relevant factors before making further international travel plans.

As part of the measures outlined, the ICC said its travel and logistics unit is working with major international carriers to identify and secure alternative routing options, including connections through European, South Asian and South-East Asian hubs. It also said security consultants are liaising with relevant authorities and will issue real-time advisories as the situation develops. A dedicated ICC Travel Support Desk has also been activated.

The ICC added that it will continue to provide updates as required and remains committed to the smooth and safe conclusion of the Men’s T20 World Cup 2026. The media release was published in the ICC’s official Media Releases section and on the dedicated release page dated 28 February 2026.

Source: ICC official media release (published on ICC website, 28 February 2026).

Full media release

ICC ACTIVATES CONTINGENCY PLANS TO SUPPORT STAKEHOLDER SAFETY AND WELL-BEING AMID TENSIONS IN THE MIDDLE EAST

Media release

The International Cricket Council (ICC) is closely monitoring the evolving situation in the Middle East and has activated comprehensive contingency plans to safeguard the travel, logistics and well-being of all stakeholders associated with the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026, currently underway in India and Sri Lanka.

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.

ICC Spokesperson: “The safety and well-being of every individual connected to our event is the ICC’s highest priority. We have already mobilised our travel, logistics and security teams, and are working around the clock to ensure that all stakeholders can return home safely, with minimal disruption. We would also urge fans who have travelled or were planning to travel for the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026 to monitor closely and adhere to advisories being issued and consider all factors before undertaking any further international travel.”

Measures Currently in Place

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.

The ICC will continue to issue updates as the situation evolves and remains committed to the smooth and safe conclusion of the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026.

  • Probuddha Bhattacharjee
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    Probuddha Bhattacharjee

    Probuddha Bhattacharjee is a sports writer and analyst with expertise spanning cricket, football, and multi-sport events, with a strong emphasis on data-driven journalism and tactical storytelling. He currently focuses on international cricket, the Indian Premier League, global tournaments, and emerging trends shaping modern sport, blending advanced statistics with strong narrative context to explain performance, strategy, and decision-making. His work aims to bridge the gap between numbers and storytelling, helping readers understand not just what happened on the field, but the tactical and structural reasons behind it. Trained in data journalism through the Google News Initiative (GNI) Data Journalism Lab, Probuddha works extensively with ball-by-ball datasets, performance metrics, and trend-based modelling to produce evidence-backed reports, explainers, and long-form features. His analytical approach focuses not only on outcomes but also on process—selection strategies, phase-wise tactics, workload management, and the influence of preparation and planning on match results. He is particularly interested in how statistical patterns reshape conventional cricketing narratives and provide clearer tactical insight for modern audiences. Beyond cricket, Probuddha has written analytical and news-driven pieces on football and other major sporting events, with a growing interest in sports governance, scheduling dynamics, and the economics of elite competitions. He also tracks how rule changes, franchise structures, and broadcast pressures influence the evolution of contemporary sport. He has previously contributed to platforms such as OneCricket, Sportskeeda, and CrickTracker, and continues to specialise in analytical storytelling, live coverage, and audience-focused reporting. His work prioritises clarity, context, and credibility, while consistently exploring innovative ways to present data through accessible narratives and structured match analysis.Read More

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