ICC monitoring West Asia conflict as airspace closure hits travel plans

The ICC has said it is monitoring the “evolving situation” in the West Asia and has “activated comprehensive contingency plans to safeguard the travel, logistics and well-being of all stakeholders” at the 2026 T20 World Cup.

On Saturday morning, the US and Israel exchanged missile strikes with Iran, leading to the closure of airspace over several countries in West Asia, disrupting air travel to the region and also internationally, with several airlines having to cancel flights or change routes.

“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,” the ICC said in a statement.

“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 2026 T20 World Cup is approaching its final stages, with the last Super Eight games on Sunday followed by the semi-finals on March 4 and 5, and the final on March 8.