Quinton de Kock and David Miller have criticised the ICC for allegedly prioritising England’s travel arrangements over South Africa and West Indies, with the two teams still waiting to return home amid disruptions caused by the conflict involving the U.S., Israel and Iran.

Read | T20 World Cup 2026: England, South Africa, West Indies to leave India on ICC charter flights over weekend

England, who lost to India in the second semifinal on Thursday (March 5, 2026), departed from Mumbai on Saturday (March 7, 2026) evening on a direct charter flight to London. South Africa and West Indies, however, are yet to leave the country.

West Indies were knocked out of the T20 World Cup after suffering a five-wicket defeat to India at the Eden Gardens on March 1, while South Africa’s campaign ended following their loss to New Zealand in the first semifinal in Kolkata on Wednesday (March 4, 2026).

Both South Africa and West Indies are expected to travel together from Kolkata on another charter flight. The exact departure time is yet to be confirmed but the flight is likely to leave on Sunday (March 8, 2026).

“Funny @icc, we have heard nothing! Meanwhile, England are leaving before us somehow? @westindies and @proteasmencsa are just in the dark! Strange how different teams have more pull than others,” De Kock wrote on his Instagram story.

His teammate Miller also expressed frustration.

“Funny that England gets eliminated after WI & SA and gets on a charter back home tonight. While WI & SA still wait for answers in Kolkata,” he wrote in the comments section of one of ESPNcricinfo’s posts.

Two-time World Cup winning former West Indies captain and current head coach Darren Sammy also weighed in on the matter.

“@davidmillersa12 a lil louder for those in the back to hear please sir.”

Former England captain Michael Vaughan too questioned the ICC’s decision to send England home earlier than West Indies and South Africa.

“So England got knocked out on Thurs, get a charter home today… West Indies go out last Sunday and are still in Kolkata… SA in the same position… That’s where the power is all wrong…,” Vaughan wrote on X.

“All teams in this situation should be treated the same… just because you are more powerful at the ICC table shouldn’t count… #JustSaying.”

West Indies and South Africa are likely to fly first to Johannesburg before the Caribbean side continues onward to Antigua.

A section of the South African contingent, including members of the team management along with players Keshav Maharaj, Jason Smith and George Linde, will travel to New Zealand on Sunday (March 8, 2026) for a limited-overs tour beginning on March 15.

India will face New Zealand in the final of the T20 World Cup at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on Sunday (March 8, 2026).

Ahead of his side’s T20 World Cup clash against India at Ahmedabad, Netherlands skipper Scott Edwards said that the team is looking forward to the “massive opportunity” of playing against the defending champions in one of the world’s largest stadiums, in Ahmedabad.

The Netherlands will be aiming to bow out of the tournament with their heads held high, hoping to create some upset against India or at least give them a massive scare ahead of the all-important Super Eight stage during their clash on Wednesday (February 18, 2026). The Dutch are in second place, with a win over Namibia and losses to Pakistan and USA.

Speaking during the pre-match presser, Edwards said, “It is obviously a massive opportunity. I think it is the biggest stadium in the world. So, to be playing against India in India at the biggest stadium is something all the guys are really looking forward to. It is a great opportunity to test yourselves against the best. I think cricket is growing in the Netherlands. Obviously, soccer is the main sport and we probably will never get to that level (of India), but for us it is just promoting the game and hopefully our performances can help grow that game in the Netherlands.”

Speaking on playing in T20 World Cups since 2009 and having got major upset wins over South Africa and England, Edwards pointed out the “difficulties around associate cricket” and Netherlands having “punched above their weight”.

“I think we have played a lot of good cricket through World Cups. I think to get to the next level, a lot of it comes down to more opportunities against test playing nations. However that comes about, there is obviously restrictions with funding for us and those sort of things, but that is not really under our control. For us, it is just playing our best cricket when we can on the world stage and hopefully that gives us opportunities,” he added.

Having first made headlines during the 2009 T20 WC with a shocking win over England, Netherlands have participated in every T20 World Cup since the 2014 edition, with the eighth place finish in 2022 edition out of 16 teams being their best finish. In that tournament, they had close matches with Sri Lanka (losing by 16 runs in chase of 163) and later in Super 12 stage, losing to Bangladesh by nine runs while chasing 145 runs. Winning this match would have placed them in contention for the semifinal spot with Pakistan, who reached that stage with six points under their belt, while Netherlands ended with four points in five matches.

On their loss to the USA at Chennai four days back, where they crumbled to 103 all out while chasing 197 runs, Edwards admitted that the team did not play its best cricket.

“USA, I thought they played quite well. It is obviously disappointing. It pretty much leaves us out of this competition. But for us, we move on to this game. Obviously, playing against India in Ahmedabad with what will probably be a massive crowd. So yeah, the boys have moved on and we are looking forward to that,” he added.

Teams:

Netherlands: Michael Levitt, Max O’Dowd, Bas de Leede, Colin Ackermann, Scott Edwards(w/c), Zach Lion-Cachet, Roelof van der Merwe, Logan van Beek, Aryan Dutt, Kyle Klein, Fred Klaassen, Noah Croes, Saqib Zulfiqar, Paul van Meekeren, Timm van der Gugten

India: Ishan Kishan(w), Abhishek Sharma, Tilak Varma, Suryakumar Yadav(c), Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube, Rinku Singh, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Varun Chakaravarthy, Jasprit Bumrah, Sanju Samson, Mohammed Siraj, Washington Sundar, Arshdeep Singh.

After put into bat, Zimbabwe openers Brian Bennett and Tadiwanashe Marumani scored rapidly to push Australian bowlers on the backfoot during the ICC Twenty20 World Cup match in Colombo on Friday (February 13, 2026).

The only Zimbabwean wicket was Marumani who was dismissed for 35 off 21 balls with the score at 61 in just 7.3 overs.

While publishing this story Brian Bennett (36) and Ryan Burl (26) were at the crease with the score at 106 for 1 in 13 overs.

Australia stand-in captain Travis Head won the toss and elected to bowl against Zimbabwe in their T20 World Cup match in Colombo on Friday (February 13, 2026).

Both sides made two changes each from their previous match playing XIs.

Ben Dwarshuis and Tim David replaced Cooper Connolly and Xavier Bartlett in the Australian team.

For Zimbabwe, Tony Munyonga and Greame Creamer are coming in for Brendan Taylor and Richard Ngarava.

Mitchell Marsh misses second World Cup game

Captain Mitchell Marsh was again missing for Australia in their second game at the T20 World Cup, against Zimbabwe in Colombo on Friday (February 13, 2026), after suffering internal testicular bleeding.

Marsh is still recovering after being struck in the groin during training, with Travis Head leading the former champions at R. Premadasa Stadium.

Marsh also missed the win over Ireland on Wednesday (February 11, 2026) and Steve Smith was called up as cover.

“Steve Smith hasn’t reached Colombo yet but hopefully the skipper is fit soon,” Head said at the toss, which he won and chose to bowl against Zimbabwe.

The in-form Smith is one of Australia’s most experienced and best players against spin.

But he was controversially omitted from the squad despite his blistering Big Bash League form as an opening batsman.

Australia are already without pace bowlers Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood, who are ruled out of the competition with injuries.

Teams:

Australia: Travis Head (c), Josh Inglis (wk), Cameron Green, Matt Renshaw, Glenn Maxwell, Tim David, Marcus Stoinis, Ben Dwarshuis, Nathan Ellis, Adam Zampa, Matthew Kuhnemann.

Zimbabwe: Sikandar Raza (c), Brian Bennett, Tadiwanashe Marumani (wk), Dion Myers, Ryan Burl, Tony Munyonga, Tashinga Musekiwa, Brad Evans, Wellington Masakadza, Graeme Cremer, Blessing Muzarabani.

(With inputs from PTI and AFP)