There will be a delay in Indian cricket team’s return from the West Indies as they are currently stuck in Barbados because of hurricane Beryl which has now intensified to an “extremely dangerous Category 4”.
The entire contingent – players and their families, support staff, Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) officials – are stranded at the beach front property in Barbados and services are affected at team hotel too.
“Like everywhere, services are affected at the team hotel too. The airport is shut so no clarity on departure as of now because of the extremely dangerous hurricane. The BCCI is coordinating to ensure the entire contingent reaches back home safely,” says a source close to developments.
Also Read: Team India Likely to Meet PM Modi After Returning From West Indies
Hurricane warnings have been issued in the area and the residents and tourists have been advised to remain indoors. Winds in excess of 130 mph are likely to hit the region.
“Beryl, the first hurricane of the 2024 Atlantic season, intensified to an extremely dangerous Category 4 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 130 mph Sunday, as it made its way toward the Windward Islands.
“Beryl is now the earliest Category 4 hurricane on record in the Atlantic Ocean and the only Category 4 storm ever recorded in the month of June. Tropical storm-force winds are expected to reach the Windward Islands late Sunday or early Monday,” reports CNN.
The Indian cricket board is currently exploring the possibility of doing a charter for the side directly from Barbados to New Delhi but it will only happen when the airport reopens. BCCI secretary Jay Shah is overseeing the arrangements for the side and is with them at the team hotel.
As CricketNext reported yesterday, there are plans of the victorious side to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi after returning to India but it now depends on when they are able to take the flight back home.
The PM spoke to Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli and Rahul Dravid on phone after the title triumph, and congratulated the side for winning their second T20 World Cup title
The team was not supposed to travel on Sunday since it was a reserve day of the 2024 T20 World Cup final and the original plan of leaving on Monday didn’t happen because of the hurricane.