ICC unveils contingency plans as tensions flare up in Middle East: 'Actively working with...'

The International Cricket Council (ICC) has taken note of the chaos in the Middle East and said that it is preparing a contingency plan to safeguard the travel and logistics of the stakeholders. The global cricket governing body is headquartered in Dubai which is among the key transit points for travelling.

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The conflict in the Middle East started on Saturday after US and Israel struck locations across Iran which prompted the Islamic Republic to retaliate by striking American bases in the Gulf. This led to the airspace across the Middle East getting closed leading to several travellers getting stuck at airports.

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ICC reveals contingency plans

ICC stated in its release on Saturday that the global body 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,” the ICC said in the 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.”

ICC Spokesperson further added that the well being of everyone connected to the ongoing World Cup is their top priority.

“We have already mobilised our travel, logistics and security teams, and are working around the clock to ensure that all stakeholders can return home safely, with minimal disruption. We would also urge fans who have travelled or were planning to travel for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 to monitor closely and adhere to advisories being issued and consider all factors before undertaking any further international travel,” the spokesperson said.

The T20 World Cup ends on March 8 in Ahmedabad with the Super 8s set to conclude on Sunday, March 1. 20 teams played in the tournament but the majority of them had already left by the time conflict began.

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