Teams Stuck in India as Flights Shut Down

The West Indies and Zimbabwe cricket squads, who just finished playing in India’s Twenty‑20 World Cup, cannot head home because many airports in the Gulf region have closed. The shutdown comes after rising tensions between Iran and the United States, as well as Israel, forced airlines to cancel thousands of flights. West Indies were knocked out of the tournament after losing by five wickets to India on Sunday, missing a spot in the semi‑finals. Zimbabwe did not win any of their three Super Eights games and were eliminated early.Both teams had planned to fly out via Dubai, a major hub that is now blocked for international travel. Zimbabwe Cricket posted on social media that the squad remains safe in India and will seek a new route back home. The Cricket West Indies organization said it is coordinating with the International Cricket Council, which is based in Dubai, to arrange secure travel for its players and staff. The ICC has activated emergency plans for teams that were supposed to pass through Dubai before heading back to their respective countries. Its top priority is the safety and well‑being of everyone involved in the sport.