Source : INDIA TODAY NEWS
The West Indies cricket team has been left stranded in Kolkata following their exit from the T20 World Cup, as escalating tensions in the Middle East have led to the closure of key air corridors across West Asia. The Caribbean side, who played their Super 8 match in Kolkata, were scheduled to depart India shortly after their elimination. However, the shutdown of Dubai Airport and the wider closure of West Asian airspace have severely disrupted international flight schedules, leaving the team unable to return home as planned.
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The unfolding crisis comes after Israel launched a pre-emptive strike on Iran, triggering heightened security concerns and aviation restrictions across the region. Several major transit hubs in West Asia – commonly used for long-haul connections between India and the Caribbean – have either suspended operations or significantly curtailed flights.
As a result, multiple international services have been cancelled or rerouted, affecting not just commercial passengers but also sporting contingents. Zimbabwe’s cricket team has similarly been left stranded in Delhi due to the same airspace restrictions.
The International Cricket Council (ICC) is currently coordinating with airlines and relevant authorities to arrange alternative travel plans for the affected teams. According to sources, efforts are underway to secure routes through European, South Asian, and South-East Asian hubs in order to bypass the restricted West Asian corridor.
While no revised departure date has been confirmed, officials remain hopeful that temporary arrangements can be made once airlines stabilise schedules and identify safe transit pathways.
For now, the West Indies squad remains in Kolkata, awaiting clarity in a rapidly evolving geopolitical situation that has spilled over into global aviation and international sport.
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SOURCE :- TIMES OF INDIA
