The International Cricket Council (ICC) confirmed Thursday that the final contingents of the South African and West Indies squads have departed India, ending a weeklong logistical deadlock that left international stars stranded by airspace closures across West Asia.
The ICC announced that 29 members of the South African party—including players, staff, and family—along with 16 West Indies representatives boarded flights within the last 24 hours.
The departures resolve a mounting PR crisis for cricket’s governing body, which faced accusations of mismanagement and favoritism as players remained stuck in hotels days after their tournament exits.
The West Indies, two-time T20 World Cup champions, saw their campaign end in the Super Eight stage against India on March 1. South Africa’s tournament concluded following a semifinal loss to New Zealand on March 4. While both teams were initially scheduled for swift exits, the ICC’s attempts to secure chartered flights were repeatedly thwarted by shifting geopolitical tensions that restricted regional flight paths.
The delay became a flashpoint for controversy after England, who were eliminated in the semifinals by India on March 5, managed to secure a chartered flight and depart by March 7.
The disparity in treatment prompted sharp rebukes from high-profile figures. West Indies head coach Daren Sammy aired his frustrations on X, while South African veterans Quinton de Kock and David Miller took to Instagram to allege biased treatment by the ICC.
In a statement released Thursday, the ICC rejected claims of partiality, attributing the staggered departures to the volatile nature of international logistics during the ongoing regional crisis.
"Throughout this period, ICC operations and logistics teams worked continuously with governments, airlines, charter providers, and member boards," the ICC stated. "Our objective was to navigate the evolving constraints posed by the shifting situation. The priority remained the safe return of all remaining players and staff, requiring frequent adjustments to flight plans as conditions changed."
The logistical resolution comes four days after India's victory over New Zealand in the final on March 8, a tournament finish that was increasingly overshadowed by the stranded squads' public discontent.