ICC Leaves West Indies Stranded in Kolkata Nine Days; West Indies Book Commercial Flights Home

The West Indies men’s T20 World Cup squad was left stranded in Kolkata for nine days after their elimination on 1 March and have been forced to book commercial flights home after what Cricket West Indies (CWI) described as a “distressing” wait.

“- Published The West Indies team is to return home via commercial flights from India after a "distressing" wait following their exit from the men's T20 World Cup”

BBC

Both Crictips and the BBC report that the team remained stuck in Kolkata amid wider travel disruption linked to the conflict in the Middle East, and that some players and staff have already departed while the remainder were scheduled to leave later in the week.

BBC

CWI said ongoing uncertainty around ICC-organised charters and repeated delays prompted the move to commercial travel to safeguard player wellbeing.

The immediate cause cited for the disruption was repeated cancellations of ICC-organised charter flights: Crictips documents cancellations of scheduled departures (including a 2:30am and a 2pm flight) and reports the ICC attributed the problems to aviation regulations and refuelling restrictions.

The BBC likewise notes that the ICC had been due to arrange charters for both West Indies and South Africa but that CWI said those arrangements were “repeatedly delayed,” with CWI explicitly linking the uncertainty to global tensions and aviation rules.

Crictips

The delay prompted visible frustration from players, staff and observers: Crictips records social-media posts from West Indies coach Daren Sammy expressing disappointment and notes South African players Quinton de Kock and David Miller also voiced concerns online, while former England captain Michael Vaughan publicly said “all teams should be treated the same.”

“- Published The West Indies team is to return home via commercial flights from India after a "distressing" wait following their exit from the men's T20 World Cup”

BBC

At the same time, the ICC defended its handling and “categorically” denied any bias, saying departure sequencing decisions were being driven by operational and regulatory factors rather than preferential treatment.

Beyond the immediate logistics, both outlets highlight broader questions about the ICC’s crisis management and equity between teams: Crictips explicitly says the incident “has raised questions about the ICC’s crisis management protocols and whether smaller cricket nations receive equal treatment.”

The BBC notes it has contacted Cricket South Africa to establish their plans and reports CWI’s framing that the board acted in “the interest of the wellbeing and safety of its players and support staff.”

Crictips

The combined coverage underscores that while commercial flights resolved West Indies’ immediate exit from Kolkata, scrutiny remains over how charter sequencing and contingency planning were handled during the wider regional disruption.