T20 World Cup 2026 teams get big relief as Iran-Israel-USA tensions hit ICC hard

A big update emerged on the departure of the teams eliminated from the ongoing T20 World Cup 2026 ahead of the big final between India and New Zealand at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad.

Multiple teams have been facing unexpected challenges after the campaign ended in the T20 World Cup 2026. They have been stuck in India for days after their exit from the tournament because global air travel has been disrupted due to the ongoing war between Iran and the USA.

ICC arranges special charter flights for England, South Africa and West Indies

To solve the problem, the International Cricket Council (ICC) has taken a major decision. As reported by ESPNcricinfo, the ICC has arranged special charter flights so the affected teams, including South Africa, the West Indies, and England, can finally return home amid the tension in West Asia.

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The move has brought relief to players and support staff who had been waiting for travel clearance after finishing their campaigns. It is being said that England, who crashed out of the showpiece event after their semifinal defeat against India, is expected to leave Mumbai on Saturday, March 7, in the evening.

Their charter flight will take them directly to London, UK. Meanwhile, the South Africa National Cricket Team and the West Indies National Cricket Team are set to travel together on another special flight from Kolkata. Both teams have been stuck in Kolkata since their elimination from the tournament.

Some South African players head to New Zealand

The plan is for them to first fly to Johannesburg before continuing their journey to their final destinations. However, some members of the South African squad like Keshav Maharaj, Jason Smith, and George Linde are all set to head straight to New Zealand for an upcoming white-ball series.

South Africa had reached the semifinal stage of the tournament but was knocked out by New Zealand in Kolkata earlier in the week. The West Indies team had already arrived in the city after their final Super Eight match against India.

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Another team, the Zimbabwe National Cricket Team, also faced travel delays earlier after finishing their T20 World Cup 2026 campaign at the start of March, although some of their members managed to leave a few days later, and some will leave India as tickets become available.

Ricky Martin, Sukhbir and Falguni Pathak to perform in T20 World Cup 2026 Final ceremony

Meanwhile, the T20 World Cup 2026 final will begin with a grand closing ceremony at the Narendra Modi Stadium on Sunday. The event is scheduled to start at 5:30 PM IST, just before the India vs New Zealand final in Ahmedabad. Nearly one lakh fans inside the stadium are expected to witness a colorful mix of music, dance, and cricket excitement.

The global pop star Ricky Martin will entertain the huge crowd. The celebration will also feature popular Indian singers, including Punjabi music star Sukhbir and famous Gujarati folk artist Falguni Pathak. Pathak, widely known as the “Dandiya Queen,” is expected to bring festive energy with her traditional dance hits in Ahmedabad ahead of the summit clash.