The West Indies and Zimbabwe cricket teams, along with their support staff, have been stranded in India following the conclusion of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 Super Eights stage, as airspace closures and flight disruptions caused by the escalating war in the Middle East have made travel impossible. Both teams had planned to return home via the United Arab Emirates.

Thousands of flights were canceled at Dubai and Abu Dhabi airports after Iran launched missile and drone strikes in response to coordinated attacks by the United States and Israel, leaving key Gulf transit hubs in chaos.

“The Zimbabwe senior men’s team remains safe and well in India,” Zimbabwe Cricket confirmed in a statement late Monday. “The squad was scheduled to return home via Dubai, but travel plans have been affected by the evolving situation in the Middle East, which has disrupted key transit routes.”

Cricket West Indies said it is “working closely with the International Cricket Council (ICC), relevant governmental authorities and airline partners to secure the earliest possible safe travel arrangements for the squad and support staff.” According to Al Jazeera, the ICC headquarters in Dubai suffered damage amid the recent attacks, and multiple explosions were reported at the airport in the last 48 hours. The governing body has activated contingency plans to safeguard everyone involved in the T20 World Cup.

Meanwhile, the tournament continues as scheduled. Defending champions India, along with England, South Africa, and New Zealand, remain in India for the semifinals. South Africa will face New Zealand at Eden Gardens in Kolkata on Wednesday, while England take on India at Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai on Thursday. The final is set for Sunday in Ahmedabad.

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