The Worldwide Cricket Council (ICC) has addressed allegations of preferential therapy after journey disruptions following the ICC Males’s T20 World Cup 2026 sparked controversy amongst a number of collaborating groups. Whereas some sides had been capable of depart India quickly after their elimination, others remained stranded resulting from ongoing airspace restrictions linked to escalating tensions in components of the Center East.
The event concluded on Sunday with India defeating New Zealand in a dominant last on the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, however logistical challenges have overshadowed the closing chapter of the worldwide occasion. Groups together with West Indies and South Africa had been pressured to stay in India for a number of days resulting from restricted flight routes and security issues affecting worldwide journey.
West Indies and South Africa face prolonged wait
Each West Indies and South Africa skilled important delays in leaving India after their campaigns ended. The Caribbean aspect performed their last match of the event on March 1, but the squad remained within the nation for over every week resulting from issues involving flight availability and secure journey corridors.
South Africa encountered related points. The Proteas had been eradicated within the semi-finals by New Zealand on March 4, however had been unable to depart instantly afterward. With a number of typical flight routes unavailable, the group stayed in Kolkata awaiting readability on their journey plans.
In the meantime, England managed to return residence shortly after shedding their semi-final in opposition to India on March 5, which rapidly triggered debate amongst followers and former gamers about whether or not sure groups had been being given precedence.
Michael Vaughan and gamers query ICC dealing with
Former England captain Michael Vaughan was among the many most vocal critics of the state of affairs, questioning whether or not the worldwide governing physique had handled groups equally.
Vaughan took to social media to precise his issues, stating that each one groups ought to be dealt with the identical no matter their affect inside the ICC construction. His feedback fuelled the rising dialog round equity in logistical preparations following the event.
South African gamers David Miller and Quinton de Kock additionally raised questions in regards to the journey state of affairs. Each cricketers publicly puzzled why England had secured a constitution flight quickly after their elimination whereas the South African contingent was nonetheless awaiting readability concerning their departure.
West Indies head coach Daren Sammy joined the criticism as properly, revealing that his group had been ready practically every week with out a clear plan concerning their journey residence.
Additionally READ: David Miller questions ICC after England receive early charter flight following T20 World Cup 2026 exit
ICC reacts to the journey bias claims
Responding to the rising backlash, the ICC strongly denied allegations that any group had been given particular therapy. In accordance with an ICC spokesperson, departure schedules had been decided purely by operational and security issues, together with airspace entry, flight routing permissions, visa logistics, and plane availability.
The governing physique defined that England’s departure route from Mumbai remained open, permitting the group to journey by way of North Africa and Egypt with out restrictions. Nevertheless, conventional journey paths utilized by groups corresponding to West Indies and South Africa sometimes depend on main Gulf hubs like Dubai and Doha, which have been impacted by ongoing regional tensions and missile warnings.
The ICC emphasised that making certain the security of gamers, assist workers, officers, and event personnel remained the best precedence whereas navigating the evolving state of affairs affecting international aviation.
“Selections on departure sequencing are being pushed solely by airspace availability, plane routing permissions, visa necessities and operational security issues. Any suggestion that groups have been prioritised based mostly on something aside from these constraints is inaccurate,” stated the spokesperson as quoted by BBC.
“The protection and well-being of gamers, assist workers, officers, and our personal workforce stay our absolute precedence as we reply to the evolving state of affairs affecting air journey throughout components of the Center East. As an illustration, the England group and their workers had been capable of fly out from Mumbai with out restriction because of the route’s airspace being unaffected and flights working as ordinary. The ICC categorically refutes any claims of bias on this or different situations, and has been totally accommodating of particular calls for and circumstances put forth by groups,” added the spokesperspon.
Regardless of the delays, journey preparations are actually being finalised for the affected squads. The South African contingent is scheduled to start departing on staggered flights, with all members anticipated to go away India inside the subsequent 36 hours. Equally, members of the West Indies squad have began returning residence in batches. 9 people have already departed, whereas the remaining members are anticipated to go away inside the subsequent 24 hours.
Additionally READ: New Zealand unveil squad for home T20I series against South Africa, Mitchell Santner and Tom Latham to share captaincy
