News
West Indies players to fly home from Kolkata on commercial flights
South Africa’s return still up in the air
10 March 2026, 16:13 • 53 mins ago
Cricket West Indies (CWI) has finally booked regular airline seats for its men’s T20 squad and back-room staff, ending a frustrating nine-day stay in Kolkata that began the moment they were knocked out of the World Cup on 1 March.
The original idea – an ICC-chartered aircraft shared with South Africa – never got off the ground. Literally. Repeated delays, all linked to the wider security situation in West Asia and tight refuelling rules, left both sides marooned in their team hotel.
“As is customary for both men’s and women’s ICC World Cups, all travel and accommodation arrangements for participating teams are coordinated and managed by the ICC,” CWI said on Tuesday.
“The charter flight, intended to transport both the West Indies and South Africa teams, was repeatedly delayed. After completing play, the West Indies squad remained in India for nine (9) days awaiting travel. However, ongoing uncertainty surrounding the ICC-organised charter, as a result of global tensions and aviation regulations, made the situation increasingly distressing.”
That distress has now prompted CWI to act. A handful of players sourced tickets over the weekend; the rest will depart India on Tuesday night or Wednesday morning local time. It is understood most will route through London or Dubai before making Caribbean connections.
“In the interest of the well-being and safety of its players and support staff, Cricket West Indies advised the ICC that it was no longer prudent to continue waiting on the charter arrangements,” the board added. “It is important to note that some players and staff have already departed, with the remaining members scheduled to depart today, Tuesday, 10th March, and tomorrow, Wednesday, 11th March 2026.”
CWI also thanked “fans and key stakeholders” for hanging on while solutions were found.
South Africa, who exited the tournament on 4 March, have not confirmed their own plans. Team officials were still weighing up alternatives at the time of writing, despite sharing the same abandoned charter.
How did we get here?
• Sunday 8 March – teams learn a 02:30 Tuesday take-off has been pencilled in.
• Monday morning – ICC emails to say the trip is cancelled.
• Monday afternoon – another note lands: new departure 14:00 Tuesday.
• Late Monday – second cancellation, airports at both ends refusing to refuel “any ad-hoc charter flight… until further notice”.
Players from both camps voiced irritation on social media. Some posted photos from empty hotel gyms; others joked about extended “nets” in their rooms. No one sounded particularly amused.
The episode raises awkward questions. Should the ICC rely solely on chartered flights at global events? Is a back-up plan now essential, given how quickly regional politics can close an air corridor? Administrators will no doubt debrief, though answers rarely arrive as fast as batters walking back after a golden duck.
One logistics consultant, speaking off record, felt the boards were unlucky rather than negligent. “When airspace restrictions kick in, everything backs up. Charters are flexible in theory, but refuelling stops still need local approval,” he said. “Add a security layer and it’s messy.”
For the West Indies players there’s relief, if not exactly triumph. Another long haul awaits, plus the small matter of switching body clocks before the start of the regional four-day season. It is, however, at least movement in the right direction.
As for South Africa, their bags remain packed but unmoved – proof that in modern cricket, getting out isn’t always about the batting.
