The International Cricket Council (ICC) on Wednesday rejected suggestions of unequal treatment after the West Indies and South Africa squads were stranded in India for more than a week following the T20 World Cup.

Airlines have cancelled or rerouted flights because of the war in the Middle East, throwing international travel into chaos.

Cricket West Indies said on Tuesday its squad had waited nine days for a charter flight that was “repeatedly delayed”, calling the uncertainty “increasingly distressing”.

Former England captain Michael Vaughan also criticised the situation, noting on social media that England departed 36 hours after their semi-final exit last week while the West Indies and South Africa remained in Kolkata more than a week after being knocked out of the tournament.

The ICC said it “rejects any suggestion that these decisions have been driven by anything other than safety, feasibility and welfare”.

“We understand that players, coaches, support staff and their families who have completed their ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 campaigns are anxious to return home,” it said in a statement.

“That they have not yet been able to do so is a source of genuine frustration, and the International Cricket Council shares that frustration.”

It also said there was no comparison between arrangements for South Africa and the West Indies and those made for England, “which arose from separate circumstances, routing options and different travel conditions”.

All members of the South Africa contingent are expected to leave within 36 hours, the ICC said.

South Africa’s World Cup ended on March 4.

Nine West Indies players and staff were already travelling to the Caribbean, with the remaining 16 booked on flights departing India within 24 hours, the ICC said.

West Indies exited the competition on March 1.

KOLKATA: The International Cricket Council (ICC) on Tuesday booked separate commercial flights for the stranded West Indies and South Africa teams after their charter flight scheduled to take off from Kolkata “was cancelled due to logistical issues”, Press Trust of India (PTI) news agency reported.

“All the West Indies and South African players have been booked on individual commercial airline flights. Obviously, all can’t be booked on same airlines but the ICC has taken care of individual bookings. ICC chairman Jay Shah has personally spoken and assured players of a safe journey back home,” an ICC source privy to the development told PTI on the condition of anonymity.

“It must be mentioned that [West Indies head coach] Darren Sammy is already on his way home having left on Monday night,” the source added.

The two teams that played their last T20 World Cup games in Kolkata (West Indies in Super Eights on March 1 and South Africa on March 4 in the semi-final) have not been able to fly out due to the disruption that has been caused by International airspace restrictions across parts of West Asia following America and Israeli military strikes on Iran.

The situation has forced multiple airlines to avoid routes through the Gulf region. ICC’s airline partner is Emirates and they are unable to operate due to the shutdown of Dubai airspace.

The restrictions severely complicated outbound travel from India towards the Caribbean and Africa, forcing cricket authorities to explore alternative routes and charter arrangements.

Earlier, in a communication conveyed on Tuesday evening, both teams were scheduled to leave Kolkata on a shared charter flight to Johannesburg on Tuesday afternoon. From there, the West Indies contingent was to continue onwards to Antigua, while the South Africans were expected to disperse for their respective commitments.

However, the flight arrangement was called off hours before the scheduled departure because of some “logistical issues”, a Cricket Associ­ation of Bengal official told PTI.

The West Indies squad has been stranded in Kolkata since the first day of the month after being knocked out of the T20 World Cup by India, who defeated them by five wickets in their Super Eights match at the Eden Gardens on March 1.

South Africa’s campaign had ended a few days later when they lost the first semi-final to eventual runners-up New Zealand at the same venue on March 4, leaving them caught in the same boat.

At the time of this report, around 12 West Indies players along with 10 members of the support staff remain in India, while the South African contingent includes 12 players and two support staff.

A few South African cricketers had already departed earlier due to upcoming commitments. Keshav Maharaj, George Linde and Jason Smith have travelled to New Zealand ahead of a bilateral series against the hosts beginning on March 15.

Earlier, Cricket West Indies had said it was working with the ICC to arrange safe travel for the team amid the complex situation caused by airspace restrictions.

“While the situation remains complex and fluid due to international airspace restrictions arising from security concerns in the Gulf region, CWI assures the public that every precaution is being taken to ensure the safe return of the team to the Caribbean,” the CWI had said.

It is likely that some of the West Indies players will stay back to join their respective IPL franchises. The IPL is slated to begin this month-end. Rovman Powell is part of Kolkata Knight Riders, whose camp begins on March 18, while Sherfane Rutherford represents Mumbai Indians.

Shimron Hetmyer plays for Rajasthan Royals and Romario Shepherd is with Royal Challengers Bengaluru, who are expected to start training from March 15.

Published in Dawn, March 11th, 2026

An Iranian women’s football team member who sought sanctuary in Australia has changed her mind after speaking with teammates Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke said on Wednesday.

Seven members of Iran’s visiting women’s football team had claimed asylum in Australia after they were branded “traitors” at home over a pre-match protest.

One player and one support member sought sanctuary before the side flew out of Sydney to Kuala Lumpur on Tuesday evening in emotional scenes, joining five other athletes who had already claimed asylum.

Burke said in parliament on Wednesday that he had since been advised one of the group “had spoken to some of the team mates that left and changed their mind”.

“She had been advised by her teammates and encouraged to contact the Iranian embassy,” he said.

“As a result of that it meant the Iranian embassy now knew the location of where everybody was.”

The remaining players have been moved from a safe house to another location, he said.

The travelling squad arrived in Malaysia early Wednesday morning after flying out from Sydney, AFP photos at Kuala Lumpur International Airport showed.

There were fears that male minders travelling with the team might try to prevent other women seeking asylum.

Burke said each player was separated from the squad at Sydney Airport and given time to mull the offer in private.

Australian officials had “made sure this was her decision” he said, referring to the Iranian team member who had changed her mind.