Will war in Middle East affect T20 World Cup 2026? ICC drops HUGE statement

The ICC T20 World Cup 2026 is underway in India and Sri Lanka.

The ICC T20 World Cup 2026 is about to reach its business end as the Super 8 stage of the tournament is underway. The 20-team competition so far has seen enthralling brand of cricket with four teams still battling hard for the final two spots of the semi-finals.

As the T20 World Cup 2026 is about to conclude, the last stage might see a few hiccups. This is because of the tensions in the Middle East with war-type situation on the cards. Although, it will have no direct consequences on the games, it might hamper logistics.

The players along with team management, match officials, broadcast teams, and event staff, who have completed their stint in the tournament, rely on Gulf hub airports, particularly Dubai (DXB), as key transit points for onward travel to their home countries. This becomes a major challenge for ICC as they would be keen to ensure the safety of all those involved in T20 World Cup 2026.

Amid the tensions in Middle East, the ICC released the official statement, saying

“The International Cricket Council (ICC) is closely monitoring the evolving situation in the Middle East and has activated comprehensive contingency plans to safeguard the travel, logistics and well-being of all stakeholders associated with the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, currently underway in India and Sri Lanka.

“While the crisis in the Middle East has no direct bearing on the conduct of the tournament, the ICC acknowledges that a significant number of personnel – including players, team management, match officials, broadcast teams, and event staff – rely on Gulf hub airports, particularly Dubai (DXB), as key transit points for onward travel to their home countries upon concluding their commitments at the event.”

ICC takes measures to ensure safety of all involved in T20 World Cup 2026 amid war in Middle East

The ICC Travel and Logistics team is actively working with major international carriers to identify and secure alternative routing options, including connections through European, South Asian and South-East Asian hubs.

The ICC security consultants are liaising with relevant authorities and will provide real-time advisories as the situation develops. A dedicated ICC Travel Support Desk has also been activated.

The ICC will continue to issue updates as the situation evolves and remains committed to the smooth and safe conclusion of the ICC T20 World Cup 2026.

For more updates, follow Khel Now Cricket on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Youtube; download the Khel Now Android App or IOS App and join our community on Whatsapp & Telegram.