International Cricket Council (ICC) Has addressed allegations of preferential treatment following travel disruptions ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 Controversy broke out between several participating teams. While some parties were successful in getting out of there India Soon after their elimination, others were stranded due to ongoing airspace restrictions due to rising tensions in parts of the Middle East.
The tournament ended with India’s defeat on Sunday new zealand An impressive final at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, but logistical challenges loom over the closing chapter of the global event. Teams including West Indies and South Africa were forced to stay in India for several days due to restricted flight routes and security concerns affecting international travel.
West Indies and South Africa faced a long wait
Both the West Indies and South Africa experienced significant delays in leaving India after their campaigns ended. The Caribbean team played its final match of the tournament on March 1, yet the team remained in the country for more than a week due to complications related to flight availability and safe travel corridors.
South Africa faced similar issues. The Proteas were eliminated by New Zealand in the semi-finals on 4 March, but were unable to recover after departing immediately afterwards. With many conventional flight routes unavailable, the team remained stuck in Kolkata awaiting clarity on their travel plans.
Meanwhile, England managed to return home shortly after losing their semi-final against India on March 5, which immediately sparked debate among fans and former players over whether certain teams were being favoured.
Michael Vaughan and players raised questions on ICC’s operations
Former England captain michael vaughn He was one of the most vocal critics of the situation, questioning whether the global governing body had treated teams equally.
Vaughan took to social media to express his concerns, stating that all teams should be treated equally regardless of their influence within the ICC structure. His comments fueled a growing conversation about fairness in logistics after the tournament.
south african player david miller And quinton de kock Questions were also raised on the travel conditions. Both cricketers publicly wondered why England secured a charter flight so soon after their exit, while the South African contingent was still awaiting clarity regarding their departure.
West Indies head coach darren sammy Also drawn into the criticism, he revealed that his team had been waiting for almost a week without a clear plan regarding their journey home.
ICC responds to claims of travel bias
Responding to the growing backlash, the ICC strongly denied allegations that any team was given special treatment. According to an ICC spokesperson, the departure schedule was determined solely by operational and security considerations, including access to airspace, flight routing permission, visa logistics and aircraft availability.
The governing body said the departure route from Mumbai to England remained open, allowing the team to travel through North Africa and Egypt without any restrictions. However, the traditional travel routes used by teams such as the West Indies and South Africa typically rely on major Gulf hubs such as Dubai and Doha, which have been affected by ongoing regional tensions and missile warnings.
The ICC stressed that ensuring the safety of players, support staff, officials and tournament personnel is the top priority when dealing with the evolving situation impacting global aviation.
“Decisions on departure sequence are being driven solely by airspace availability, en route permission, visa requirements and operational security considerations. Any suggestion that teams have been prioritized based on anything other than these constraints is incorrect.” The spokesperson was quoted as saying by the BBC.
“The safety and well-being of players, support staff, officials and our own workforce remains our absolute priority as we respond to the evolving situation impacting air travel in parts of the Middle East. For example, the England team and their staff were able to fly from Mumbai without restriction as the en route’s airspace was unaffected and flights operated normally. The ICC categorically refutes any claims of bias in this or other matters, and the specifics put forth by the teams Is adjusting to the demands and conditions perfectly.” The spokesperson added.
Despite the delay, travel arrangements for the affected squads are now being finalised. The South African contingent is scheduled to depart on separate flights, and all members are expected to leave India within the next 36 hours. Similarly, West Indies team members have started returning home in batches. Nine persons have already left, while the remaining members are expected to leave within the next 24 hours.