Zimbabwe players to leave India in batches; ICC works out alternate route following Middle East crisis

The first batch of Zimbabwean players has already left India, and the next will depart later this week.

Updated on: Mar 5, 2026, 16:03:21 IST

Written by Vishesh Roy

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The entire Zimbabwe contingent had to stay back in India after their exit from the T20 World Cup due to the closure of the Gulf airspace because of the war between Iran and the US/Israel. The players were also seen playing Holi on Wednesday afternoon; however, Zimbabwe Cricket has now officially confirmed that the players are on their way back home. The cricketers will be leaving India in two separate batches after the International Cricket Council (ICC) arranged an alternate route.

The first batch of Zimbabwean players has already left India (Hindustan Times)

Zimbabwe were scheduled to leave India on March 2 after their final Super 8s match against South Africa; however, their travel plans had to be put on hold due to the closure of airspace in the Middle East following the US and Israeli strikes on Iran.

"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.

Also Read: ‘I just wanna go home’: Daren Sammy’s cry for help as West Indies still stuck in India despite T20 World Cup exit

"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.

According to news agency PTI, Zimbabwe's original travel route via Dubai on an Emirates flight had to be altered. The players will now be travelling to Harare via Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

Speaking of Zimbabwe, the Sikandar Raza-led side had a good outing at the T20 World Cup 2026, advancing from the group stage after defeating Australia and Sri Lanka. Zimbabwe topped Group B while Australia crashed out of the tournament.

West Indies stranded in India

Speaking of the West Indies, the side is currently in India and is waiting for an alternate travel route. Head coach Daren Sammy took to social media on Thursday, saying he wants to “go back home.”

He also stated that he is eagerly waiting for the authorities to provide him with a timeframe for when he can expect to travel back to the West Indies.

The West Indies crashed out of the T20 World Cup 2026 after losing to India in the must-win Super 8s match at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata on Sunday, March 1.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Vishesh Roy
Vishesh Roy is a sports journalist with a strong focus on cricket. He began his career at Asian News International (ANI), where he covered a range of high-profile events, including the India Open, Legends Cricket League, the England–India Test series in Ahmedabad in 2021, and the inauguration of the Narendra Modi Stadium. During his tenure at ANI, he also reported extensively on domestic cricket, covering several Ranji Trophy and Vijay Hazare Trophy matches across the country. While cricket remains his primary beat, Vishesh has also reported on tennis, football and WWE. After a stint of over three years at ANI, Vishesh moved to NDTV, where he gained hands-on experience in digital-first journalism, with a particular emphasis on live blogs and real-time news reporting. He joined Hindustan Times in October 2024 and quickly established himself with a series of exclusive interviews and source-driven stories. Ahead of the IPL 2025 auction, Hindustan Times was the first to report that the two-day event would be held in Saudi Arabia. In the early months of his tenure, Vishesh secured interviews with leading cricketers, including Pat Cummins, Shreyas Iyer, Nitish Kumar Reddy and Rashid Latif. He has also closely tracked the rise of emerging talents such as Vaibhav Suryavanshi and Priyansh Arya by speaking to their current and childhood coaches. His background in on-field reporting has helped Hindustan Times Digital break exclusive stories on major developments, including Virat Kohli’s return to the Ranji and Vijay Hazare Trophy, IPL scheduling, and the T20 World Cup controversy involving Bangladesh and Pakistan.Read More

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