The conflict in the Middle East has caused problems in sport. This is particularly true when it comes to the T20 World Cup in India and Sri Lanka. Flights have been cancelled and South Africa; England and the West Indies have all been affected by it.
They have all been stranded in India waiting for the International Cricket Council (ICC) to organise charter flights home. The good news is that flights have been organised.
However, there's a dispute that England have been shown favouritism as they have flown first; followed by South Affrica and the West Indies. There's a dispute because England have been waiting the least amount of time; compared to the West Indies, who have been stranded for nearly a week.
England will fly direct to London. West Indies - along with South Africa - will go to Johannesburg first and then to Antigua; both teams are still awaiting confirmation on when exactly they will depart but the understanding is that it will be on Sunday.
However, as of Saturday evening, Quinton de Kock, David Miller and West Indies coach, Daren Sammy, had made comments on social media that stated they did not yet know when they would be travelling home. Some of the South African contingent - the team management along with Keshav Maharaj, Jason Smith and George Linde - will be travelling to New Zealand on Sunday for a limited-overs tour that begins on 15 March.
On Saturday, Sammy had posted "Day 6" on his X account, indicating the number of days they had been stranded in Kolkata after their final match. The Zimbabwe team had also faced delays in leaving India after playing their final match on 1 March but some of their contingent were able to leave on 4 March.
As per a media outlet, England were given a chartered flight on Saturday, while the Proteas and the West Indies were scheduled to leave with a similar arrangement a day later, despite being eliminated well before the Three Lions.
"Funny that England gets eliminated after West Indies and South Africa and gets on a charter back home tonight. While West Indies and South Africa still wait for answers in Kolkata," Miller wrote on the Instagram post.
While West Indies' campaign ended on 1 March, that of the Proteas concluded three days later. A day after South Africa's exit, England too were eliminated from the tournament.
Reacting to Miller's remark, West Indies head coach Daren Sammy requested, "@davidmillersa12 a little louder for those in the back to hear please sir."
Miller further said, "@darensammy88 it doesn't take @icc long to organise England charter. West Indies have been waiting for seven days for a charter and South Africa coming on 4 days now. And yet we still wait."
Players from South Africa and West Indies have questioned the travel arrangements after their exit from the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026, claiming some teams were given priority flights home.
While England left Mumbai on a charter flight to London on Saturday after their semi-final loss, South Africa and the West Indies are still waiting in India due to flight disruptions linked to tensions involving the United States, Israel and Iran.
South Africa were knocked out after losing to New Zealand national cricket team in the first semi-final in Kolkata, while West Indies exited following a five-wicket defeat to India at the same city.
South Africa wicketkeeper, Quinton de Kock, publicly criticised the situation on social media.
He wrote, "Funny @icc, we have heard nothing! Meanwhile, England are leaving before us somehow? @westindies and @proteamsencsa are just in the dark! Strange how different teams have more pull than others."
Former England cricketer Michael Vaughan has slammed the International Cricket Council (ICC) over what he called differential treatment of teams following their exit from the T20 World Cup.
In a post on X, Vaughan questioned why the England team was given a chartered flight to return home immediately after being knocked out of the tournament, while the South Africa and West Indies squads remain stranded in India — the latter for more than a week.
"So England got knocked out on Thurs get a charter home today… West Indies go out last Sunday and are still in Kolkata… SA in the same position… That’s where the power is all wrong… All teams in this situation should be treated the same… just because you are more powerful at the ICC table shouldn’t count," Vaughan wrote.
The teams have been waiting for ICC-arranged charter flights due to airspace restrictions caused by the Israel–Iran conflict, which has disrupted flight routes across parts of the Middle East.
Earlier, West Indies head coach Daren Sammy expressed frustration over the delay, posting a brief message on X on Thursday: "I just wanna go home."
I do find this situation a bit suspicious. I do think that the West Indies should've taken England's place. As I far as I know, Englanddon't have an upcoming series that they need to get to.
Just because they hold a powerful position within the ICC, that doesn't mean that they should get special attention. Every player is a human being and each should be treated with respect and dignity.
No player should get special attention. Every single one of them have loved ones that they need to get back to. This is especially true if they are "in the middle" of a conflict.