Zim GBC Sports News
HARARE – The Zimbabwe national cricket team, the Chevrons, have been left stranded in India following the cancellation of their outbound flights due to escalating instability and widespread airspace closures in the Middle East.
Multiple reports late Sunday confirmed that the team’s scheduled return to Harare via Dubai was grounded after several countries in West Asia shut their airspace.
The disruptions follow joint US-Israeli military strikes on Iran and subsequent retaliatory actions, which have forced major international carriers to suspend or reroute flights through the region’s key transit hubs .
The travel setback comes just hours after Zimbabwe suffered a five-wicket defeat to South Africa in their final Super Eights group match at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi on Sunday afternoon.
The result effectively ended their hopes of progressing further in the ICC T20 World Cup .
Zimbabwe Cricket (ZC) moved quickly to reassure the nation, confirming that all players and support staff are safe and accounted for in Delhi.
“Zimbabwe Cricket (ZC) confirms that the Zimbabwe senior men’s team remains safe and well in India following the conclusion of their ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 campaign,” the board stated.
“The squad was scheduled to return home via Dubai, but travel plans have been affected by the evolving situation in the Middle East, which has disrupted key transit routes” .
The squad was booked on Emirates flights from Delhi to Dubai and onward to Harare, with travel scheduled to begin in batches early Monday morning. However, the widespread cancellations have left them in limbo.
Head coach Justin Sammons revealed the uncertainty surrounding the team’s departure, admitting that the focus had solely been on the match.
“When we started the game, there wasn’t anything. And now we’ve just been focused on the game, so I’ve not heard anything since,” Sammons said after the fixture .
ICC Activates Contingency Plans
The International Cricket Council (ICC) confirmed it is closely monitoring the volatile situation and has activated contingency measures to manage the logistics for all teams.
The governing body’s travel and security teams are coordinating with airlines to secure alternative routes, potentially through European, South Asian, or South-East Asian hubs .
A dedicated Travel Support Desk has also been established to assist affected teams and officials.
For the Chevrons, the unexpected delay adds a challenging postscript to what was otherwise a spirited World Cup campaign.
Captain Sikandar Raza delivered a standout all-round performance against the Proteas—scoring a superb 73 and taking 3/29—but it was not enough to secure a victory .
Players and support staff now face an anxious wait in India for clarity on their revised journey home amid an increasingly volatile regional situation.
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