Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) vice-president Rajeev Shukla recently provided an important update regarding the travel plans of the Indian cricket team. After being stranded in Barbados due to Hurricane Beryl, the team is now scheduled to travel to Delhi on Wednesday evening. The Indian cricket team, having clinched a thrilling seven-run victory over South Africa in the T20 World Cup final last Saturday, found themselves unable to return home as Barbados was hit by the massive hurricane.
The team has been stuck there for three days due to the severe weather conditions. Rajeev Shukla shared the news on his X account (formerly known as Twitter), expressing relief over the team’s impending departure.
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“Thank God team India is flying back from Barbados this evening to Delhi. Will be reaching tomorrow evening. They were stuck for three days there because of a massive hurricane,” he wrote. He also highlighted the BCCI’s efforts to ensure the safe return of the players. “The BCCI has made all arrangements for the safe flight of players back home. BCCI secretary Jay Shah himself is monitoring the whole situation,” Shukla added.
@BCCI has made all arrangements for safe flight of players back home. BCCI secretary @JayShah himself is monitoring the whole situation. (2/2)
— Rajeev Shukla (@ShuklaRajiv) July 2, 2024
The Indian squad, along with its support staff, players’ families, some board officials, and Indian media, will be flying back on a special Air India charter flight named AIC24WC — Air India Champions 24 World Cup. However, there have been reports of further delays, with the team now expected to land in Delhi on Thursday morning.
#WATCH | A special flight of Air India lands at Barbados Airport. Team India will fly back to the country on this flight. pic.twitter.com/5q8NaiIJGP
— ANI (@ANI) July 3, 2024
.@airindia‘s special charter flight getting ready to land at Bridgetown, Barbados – to fly back the T20 World Cup Winners (stuck there on account of flight cancellations, due to #HurricaneBeryl).
A nice call sign, Air India… ‘AIC24WC’! 🙂 pic.twitter.com/59HRMTo8cH
— Amit Paranjape (@aparanjape) July 3, 2024
The flight, which departed from New Jersey, USA, on July 2, is set to land in Barbados around 2 am local time. According to the revised schedule, it will take off from Barbados at 4:30 am local time, and with a 16-hour flight duration, the team is expected to arrive in Delhi at 6 am IST on Thursday, assuming no additional delays.
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Operations at Grantley Adams International Airport resumed on Tuesday. Initially, the team was scheduled to depart Barbados at 6 pm local time on July 2 and arrive in Delhi at 7:45 pm IST on Wednesday. Despite the delay, the Indian players are anticipated to be welcomed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, though the details of this event are yet to be finalized.
Hurricane Beryl, which caused the disruptions, has now been downgraded from a Category 5 to a Category 4 storm and is moving towards Jamaica.
