Hurricane Beryl has delayed the return of the winning Indian cricket team from Barbados as the natural calamity has forced authorities to shut down air travel. The team, led by Rohit Sharma, secured a historic win against South Africa in the T20 World Cup 2024 final on Saturday and was set to fly home on Sunday. However, the adverse weather conditions have left the players confined to their hotel rooms with no clear return schedule as of Monday.
The Barbados airport remains closed, with all flights cancelled due to the impending arrival of Hurricane Beryl. Classified as a Category 4 hurricane, Beryl poses severe risks, making air travel impossible. The travel plans of the team cannot be confirmed until the weather situation stabilises, which may take another 24 hours.
According to a report in the Washington Post, Hurricane Beryl is expected to strike the Windward Islands with winds exceeding 130 mph. The Hurricane Centre predicts a storm surge of 6 to 9 feet and rainfall between 3 to 6 inches, contributing to the extreme caution being exercised.
Board of Control for Cricket in India or BCCI secretary Jay Shah addressed the situation, stating that plans for a felicitation ceremony for the players will be made once they can depart from Barbados. “Like you, we are also stuck here. After the travel plans are clear, we will think about the felicitation,” said Shah.
The delay has also affected the schedule of some players who are set to travel to Zimbabwe for a five-match T20I series starting on July 6. The extended stay in Barbados may shorten their break before their next international commitment.
