“I Just Wanna Go Home”: Daren Sammy Voices Frustration Over Stranded West Indies Team
West Indies cricket team stranded in India due to Gulf airspace restrictions; ICC coordinating charter flights for return.
The West Indies cricket team remains stranded in India due to international airspace restrictions triggered by the ongoing US-Israel-Iran conflict. Head coach Daren Sammy took to social media on Thursday to voice his frustration after the team spent more than four days in Kolkata following their exit from the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup.
“I just wanna go home,” Sammy wrote on his official X account. Hours later, he posted again seeking clarity on travel plans, adding: “At least an update, tell us something. Today, tomorrow, next week. It’s been 5 days.” He later confirmed that he had received an update, writing, “Got an update. That’s all WI wanted.”
The disruption comes after US and Israeli strikes on Iran prompted airspace restrictions across parts of the Gulf region, affecting multiple international flight routes. The West Indies had been eliminated from the Super Eight stage of the T20 World Cup after losing to India on Sunday, and have since been unable to return home.
A Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB) official told PTI that the matter is being managed entirely by the International Cricket Council (ICC), with efforts underway to arrange a chartered flight for the team. Cricket West Indies (CWI) also issued a statement confirming coordination with the ICC and other authorities to ensure the safe return of players, citing “security threats posed by military action in the Gulf region” as the cause for delays.
The uncertainty has implications for players participating in the upcoming Indian Premier League (IPL). Rovman Powell is due with Kolkata Knight Riders on March 18, Sherfane Rutherford represents Mumbai Indians, Shimron Hetmyer plays for Rajasthan Royals, and Romario Shepherd is part of Royal Challengers Bengaluru. Meanwhile, Zimbabwe’s players, who were similarly stranded, have started returning home via alternate routes arranged through Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
The airspace crisis has led to widespread flight disruptions across the Middle East, with major aviation hubs such as Dubai, Qatar, Kuwait, and Bahrain experiencing mass cancellations since February 28. While some Indian carriers, including IndiGo, Air India, SpiceJet, and Akasa Air, have resumed limited flights to certain Middle East destinations, numerous services remain suspended. On Wednesday alone, approximately 180 flights from Mumbai, Delhi, and Bengaluru were cancelled due to these restrictions.
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