The ICC has denied claims of favouring England after the team flew home from India following their T20 World Cup exit, while West Indies and South Africa remain stranded due to Middle East airspace disruptions.

Acknowledging the frustration of cricketers and their team management, the ICC said that the flights have been disrupted due to ongoing military conflict in the Middle East.

West Indies were one of the teams stranded in India due to the ongoing Israel-Iran conflict leading to the closure of the airspace in West Asia.

Dubai | The ICC on Wednesday expressed sympathy for the international players stranded in India after the T20 World Cup but lambasted "uninformed and unhelpful" suggestions that "anything other than safety" is driving the travel plans that have been thrown haywire by the West Asia conflict.

The ICC denies claims of bias after England return home quickly after T20 World Cup while West Indies and South Africa remained stranded in India as charter flights impacted by Gulf region conflict; b

South Africa and West Indies cricket team have been stuck in Kolkata for than a week after playing their last T20 World Cup 2026 matches.

The ICC (International Cricket Council) made several attempts to help the West Indies squad travel back home after they were stranded in Kolkata. However, the CWI (Cricket West Indies) came forward to announce that the side will not travel back home on commercial flights.

The ICC release said: "On current arrangements, the South Africa contingent will begin departing for South Africa tonight, with all members expected to have departed within the next 36 hours."

King Charles was presented with a signed bat from Sir Viv Richards at the annual Commonwealth Day reception at St James’s Palace

Reflecting on the triumph, Gambhir described winning a World Cup as India’s head coach as a deeply emotional experience and a privilege to once again contribute in national colours.