hurricane-halts-indian-cricket-team-s-return-plans

The Indian cricket team, fresh off their T20 World Cup victory, finds themselves stranded in Barbados due to Hurricane Beryl, a Category 4 storm.

 

The hurricane was expected to brush past the island on Sunday night, with its centre passing approximately 80 miles off the south coast.

 

The Indian contingent, which includes players, support staff, families, and officials, is currently lodged at the Hilton Hotel in Bridgetown.

 

The team's initial plan was to take a charter flight directly back to India, but the airport closure on Sunday evening has thwarted these plans.

 

The South African team, however, managed to leave earlier on Sunday before the airport shut down.

 

According to Rev Sportz, the Indian players, including captain Rohit Sharma, were seen queuing at the airport, eating off paper plates as they awaited further instructions.

 

BREAKING @BCCI will do all they can to help Indian team and media get out of Barbados once cyclone fury subsides.

Airport shut.

Indian team hotel operating with limited staff. Players had dinner in paper plates standing in a queue.

LIVE at 9am with all updates on the ground…

— Boria Majumdar (@BoriaMajumdar) July 1, 2024

 

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is actively exploring options to evacuate the team once the cyclone passes.

 

A BCCI source revealed that the team was originally scheduled to fly from Bridgetown to New York and then travel to India via Dubai. Given the current circumstances, a direct charter flight from Bridgetown to Delhi is now being arranged.

 

Discussions are also underway for a possible meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi upon their return.

 

BCCI secretary Jay Shah, speaking from Barbados, mentioned that a grand felicitation ceremony is being planned for the team upon their arrival in India.

 

"Like you, we are also stuck here. Once the travel plans are finalized, we will organise the felicitation," Shah told media persons.       

 

The team's dramatic victory in the T20 World Cup final was marked by a stellar performance from Virat Kohli.

 

Despite a disappointing run in the tournament leading up to the final, where he scored just 75 runs in seven innings, Kohli rose to the occasion with a crucial 76 off 59 balls, leading India to a total of 176 for seven. 

 

South Africa's Heinrich Klaasen threatened to snatch the win with a rapid 23-ball fifty, but India’s bowlers held their nerve. Hardik Pandya and Jasprit Bumrah were instrumental in restricting South Africa to 169/8, sealing India's first T20 World Cup win since 2007.

 

This victory also marks India's first world title since their 2011 ODI World Cup triumph at home and their first ICC trophy since winning the Champions Trophy in 2013.