West Indies Coach Longs for Home Amid Travel Delays Due to Airspace Restrictions
Daren Sammy's Frustration Over Delayed Departure
Daren Sammy, the coach of the West Indies cricket team, has voiced his eagerness to return home as the team faces delays in leaving India. This situation arises from international airspace restrictions linked to security issues in the Gulf Region, stemming from the ongoing conflict between Israel and Iran. On Thursday, Sammy expressed his feelings in a brief post on X, stating, "I just wanna go home."
CWI Addresses Travel Delays
Cricket West Indies (CWI) confirmed on Monday that the team's departure from India, following their exit from the T20 World Cup 2026, has been postponed due to these airspace restrictions. In an official announcement, CWI explained, "These restrictions are a direct result of security threats posed by military actions in the Gulf Region, affecting several international flight routes and necessitating adjustments in airline schedules for safety reasons." The board emphasized that the safety of players, coaching staff, and officials is their top priority. They are collaborating with the International Cricket Council (ICC), relevant government bodies, and airline partners to arrange safe travel for the squad and support staff as soon as possible.
West Indies' Performance in T20 World Cup
This delay follows the West Indies' exit from the ICC Men's T20 World Cup after a five-wicket defeat to India in their final Super Eight match at Eden Gardens, Kolkata. Despite a strong performance in the league stage, the team struggled in the Super Eights and did not advance to the semi-finals.
Match Highlights: India vs West Indies
In their last match, the West Indies scored 195 runs for 4 wickets, with notable contributions from Roston Chase (40 runs), Shai Hope (32 runs), and Shimron Hetmyer (27 runs). A significant partnership of 76 runs was formed between Jason Holder (37 not out) and Rovman Powell (34 not out). India's bowling attack was spearheaded by Jasprit Bumrah, who took 2 wickets for 36 runs. India successfully chased the target, with Sanju Samson leading the innings with an impressive 97 runs off 50 balls, supported by Suryakumar Yadav (18 runs) and Tilak Varma (27 runs), securing a comfortable five-wicket victory. The West Indies have previously won the Men's T20 World Cup twice, in 2012 and 2016.