The West Indies cricket team is stranded in Kolkata after their recent exit from the T20 World Cup, having lost to India by five wickets. The defeat marks another disappointing chapter for the team in the tournament.

Cricket West Indies is currently coordinating a charter flight to facilitate the team’s return home. However, the departure of this flight is subject to final air traffic approvals, which have been complicated by ongoing geopolitical tensions in West Asia that have disrupted international flight paths.

Akeal Hosein, a player on the team, humorously appealed to football star Cristiano Ronaldo for assistance, saying, “At this point, I’m better off asking Cristiano Ronaldo to send the jet and come rescue me, yes?” His light-hearted comment reflects the frustration felt by the team as they await travel arrangements.

As it stands, the team is waiting for a 24-hour window to begin their journey home. Darren Sammy, the head coach, has been actively seeking clarity on the travel logistics to ensure the safety and well-being of the players.

Cricket West Indies has assured that the team remains safe and well as arrangements continue to be finalized. However, details regarding the exact departure time for the charter flight remain unconfirmed.

This situation follows the West Indies cricket team’s elimination from the 2026 T20 World Cup, which has raised questions about the future of the team in international cricket. Observers are keen to see how the team will regroup and what steps will be taken moving forward.

The cricketing community is watching closely as the West Indies navigate these challenges, hoping for a swift resolution to their travel issues.

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Sanju Samson delivered a remarkably composed performance during a tense run chase, leading India to a five-wicket victory over the West Indies in Kolkata and securing a spot in the T20 World Cup semifinals.

Samson, who made his return to the Indian playing XI in the last match after being excluded for the previous three games, finished unbeaten on 97 as India secured a remarkable victory in front of a full house at Eden Gardens on Sunday.

The wicketkeeper-batter was the sole Indian player to surpass 30 runs as the defending champions took on the Maroons in a crucial Super Eight match where the stakes were high.

During the match, Samson achieved the highest score by an Indian in a T20 World Cup run chase, surpassing Virat Kohli’s 82 runs against Australia in 2016 and Pakistan in 2022.

The cohosts are set to compete against England in the second semifinal in Mumbai on Thursday, while New Zealand will clash with South Africa in the first semifinal match on Wednesday in Kolkata.

Samson maintained a composed attitude despite the challenging target and the anticipation of the home crowd, setting the stage for India’s pursuit after the early loss of star batsman Abhishek Sharma in the third over.

The 31-year-old cricketer from southern India seized control of the match, consistently finding the boundary during his 50-ball innings. Samson finished with an impressive 97 not out, which included 12 fours and four sixes.

Although he received some temporary backing from the top and middle order batsmen of India, none managed to exceed the 20-run mark until Tilak Varma achieved 27 runs off 15 deliveries in a partnership worth 42 runs with Samson.

Suryakumar Yadav (18) and Hardik Pandya (17) also played key roles in the total, which was finalized with two boundaries struck by Samson in the final over.

Promotion

In the match between West Indies and India, pacers Shamar Joseph and Jason Holder each claimed two wickets while their fellow players found it challenging to stem the tide of runs scored by Samson.

Previously, a solid 68-run opening stand from captain Shai Hope and Roston Chase provided the West Indies with a quick start to their innings against India.

Chase, who hit 40 runs off 25 deliveries, was the more dynamic of the two openers, capitalizing on his dropped catch by Abhishek Sharma to aggressively challenge Axar Patel and Jasprit Bumrah during the initial six overs.

Hope was out for 32 runs after a lackluster performance and was substituted by the in-form Shimron Hetmyer.

The fifth-ranked run-scorer of the cricket tournament raced to 27 runs off just 12 deliveries before being caught behind off Bumrah’s bowling.

India appeared to have the upper hand early on as the West Indies found themselves at 119-4 by the 15th over. However, a solid finish from Rovman Powell and Jason Holder propelled the 2012 and 2016 champions to a total of 195.

Powell remained not out at 34 while Holder scored 37 off 22 deliveries as they aimed to challenge the pre-tournament favorites in front of a full house at Eden Gardens.

Bumrah stood out among the Indian bowlers, taking two vital wickets in his four overs.

Pandya and Varun Chakravarthy took the remaining two wickets of the West Indies players.

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