ICC confirm South Africa to begin departure after week-long delay due to airspace closure

ICC Confirm South Africa (Photo Source: MB Media/Getty Images)

The International Cricket Council (ICC) has confirmed the South Africa contingent from the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup is set to depart in the next 36 hours after the delay amid the ongoing conflict in West Asia.

South African players David Miller and Quinton de Kock took to social media to express frustration on England’s early departure despite being eliminated after South Africa and West Indies.

“Funny @icc, we have heard nothing! Meanwhile, England are leaving before us somehow? @westindies and @proteasmencsa are just in the dark! Strange how different teams have more pull than others,” de Kock wrote on Instagram

“Funny that England gets eliminated after WI & SA and gets on a charter back home tonight, while WI & SA still wait for answers in Kolkata.” Miller wrote on Instagram

In response the ICC has said that two situations are independent of each other and that they understand the frustrations the players and staff are facing in this scenario.

“There is no link between arrangements made in the cases of South Africa and the West Indies and those made previously for England or any other nation, which arose from separate circumstances, routing options and different travel conditions. For the West Indies contingent, nine members have already begun travelling to the Caribbean, while the remaining 16 are scheduled to depart India within the next 24 hours. We will provide updates on further departures as confirmed arrangements are in place,” ICC said in a release.

“We understand that players, coaches, support staff and their families who have completed their ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 campaigns are anxious to return home. That they have not yet been able to do so is a source of genuine frustration, and the International Cricket Council (ICC) shares that frustration,” it added.

The ICC also assured the safety of and welfare of the stakeholders and those involved.

“Throughout this period, the ICC’s overriding priority has been the safety and welfare of everyone affected, including players travelling with spouses and young children. We will not move people until we are satisfied that the travel solution in place is safe, and that commitment will not change.

These are conditions entirely outside the ICC’s control, and they have made each travel solution significantly more complex and time-consuming than under normal circumstances. We thank all players, management, boards and partners for their continued patience and cooperation in an exceptionally difficult situation.

Our teams are working around the clock and remain in constant contact with team managers as circumstances continue to develop. We will continue to provide updates as the situation evolves,” they added.

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