The T20 World Cup-winning Indian cricket team’s departure from the Caribbean island has been delayed as the charter flight is yet to arrive here.
After being detained here for the last three days owing to hurricane Beryl, the Indian squad, its support staff, the players’ families, a few board officials, and Indian media are scheduled to return on an Air India special charter flight called AIC24WC — Air India Champions 24 World Cup.
After defeating South Africa in the championship match on Saturday by a thrilling seven runs, the team captained by Rohit Sharma emerged victorious.
The flight, which took off from New Jersey, USA on July 2, is expected to land in Barbados around 2 am local time.
The flight is currently scheduled to depart Barbados at 4:30 a.m. (local time). If there are no more delays in their departure, the team will land in Delhi on Thursday at 6 am (IST), after a 16-hour flight.
On Tuesday, the Grantley Adams International Airport reopened for business. The Indian team was originally supposed to depart on July 2 at around 6 p.m. local time and arrive on Wednesday at 7:45 p.m. (IST).
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to congratulate the players, however the exact time of the ceremony is still pending.
Hurricane Beryl is presently approaching Jamaica as a Category 4 hurricane, downgraded from a Category 5 storm.