New Delhi: West Indies and South Africa have been stranded in Kolkata for over a week after their early exit from the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, sparking criticism from the former England captain Michael Vaughn.Warne questioned why the England national cricket team was able to return home quickly while other teams remained stranded. England were eliminated on March 5 but were reportedly flown home within 36 hours. Meanwhile, West Indies were eliminated on March 1 and South Africa on March 4, but both teams were still waiting in India a few days later.
Frustrated by the situation, Warne wrote: “Just wanted to let everyone know that West Indies were knocked out of the World Cup on March 1st. It’s now March 9th. They are still stuck in Kolkata. South Africa are in the same position. It’s not right… England were given the franchise 36 hours after being knocked out. That should be the case for all teams.”Players like this also asked this question Quinton de KockDavid Miller and West Indies coach Darren Sammy have all expressed concerns about the postponement.However, tournament organizers say the issue is not one of favoritism but travel restrictions. According to the International Cricket Council and the West Indies Cricket Association, the delay is related to airspace restrictions caused by escalating tensions in the Middle East between the United States, Israel and Iran. Several flight corridors across the Gulf have been partially closed as a safety precaution.Flights to the UK could take northern routes to avoid the worst-affected areas, which could help England return faster. But routes to the Caribbean and South Africa are closer to the Gulf’s restricted airspace, leading to flight cancellations and licensing issues. An earlier planned charter flight was reportedly canceled after it was not approved for overflight.
