List of all cricket teams & events affected due to Middle East war
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With Dubai and other Gulf transit hubs disrupted due to war, ICC has been forced into emergency logistical planning during a packed cricket calendar.
The war between Iran, Israel and the USA is having its effects on various sports and cricket is no different. The war conditions have meant that the airspace in the Middle East countries continues to remain closed for flights. This has impacted the outbound travel plans for many players and teams.
Dubai International Airport has been the principal airport that connects South Asia with Europe, Africa, Australia, and the Americas. Amidst the war situation, the ICC has to now look for alternative flight routes to ensure that players and staff return safely after the matches in T20 World Cup 2026.
T20 World Cup teams remain stranded in India as aviation closures hit cricket teams round the world
Missile exchanges in the Middle East region has forced several countries to close airspace, causing widespread flight cancellations and rerouting. Although the majority of the series and tournaments itself are not under threat, the logistics chain behind the events of this scale relies heavily on Middle Eastern transit corridors.
The Zimbabwe cricket team and the West Indies completed their assignments at the Super 8 stage of T20 World Cup 2026. The teams cannot leave the Indian shores. The International Cricket Council is using its contingency plans to ensure the teams’ safety while they are in India.
England may also need to traverse the Pacific Ocean once they complete their tour or take a longer route going north. South Africa and New Zealand teams will also be facing the same problem in the coming days. This is because the Proteas always take a route through the Middle East.
Apart from the ICC T20 World Cup held in India, Women’s Cricket is also not an exception. Pakistan Women completed a tour of South Africa and are stranded there. Another Women’s Cricket team from the sub-continent, namely Sri Lanka, is currently on tour in the Caribbean.
The England Cricket Board announced that the England Women’s training camp scheduled in the UAE has been cancelled amidst the war situation. Along with the Women’s team, the England Lions’ series against the Pakistan Shaheens has also been called off.
The associate nations will also be hampered by the war situation with the Nepal leg of the Cricket World Cup League 2 is in jeopardy. With the leg expected to start from March 10, the teams involved will face major hurdles in travelling to Nepal.
List of all cricket teams & events affected due to Middle East war
- Zimbabwe is stranded in India
- West Indies is stranded in India
- Pakistan Women is stranded in South Africa
- England Lions vs PAK Shaheens series was cancelled
- England Women’s Training Camp in U.A.E was cancelled
- CWC League 2 Nepal leg is in Doubt
Why is the war affecting international cricket teams?
The Middle East airspace closures have disrupted major global transit routes used by teams for international travel.
Which T20 World Cup teams are currently facing travel challenges?
Zimbabwe and West Indies are experiencing outbound travel complications with England and South Africa also expected to face issues.
Which women’s cricket events also impacted?
Tours involving Pakistan Women and Sri Lanka Women, along with England’s UAE training camp, have been affected.
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Vishwajit Sawant is a sports content writer with two years of experience who believes in writing that feels honest, simple, and easy to read. He enjoys breaking down sporting moments into stories readers can genuinely connect with, without relying on fancy vocabulary. His work spans cricket, football, basketball, tennis, and Formula 1, with a focus on match previews, reviews, and reports. Vishwajit believes good content doesn’t need to be loud — it just needs to leave a subtle impact.