The Indian team, stranded in Bridgetown, Barbados, since their World Cup triumph on June 29, is set to depart the Caribbean island on Tuesday night. As reported by Cricbuzz, they will fly directly to New Delhi, where they are expected to meet with the Prime Minister, reports Live Cricket Score.
Squad members, support staff, and their families have been stranded on the island for the past two days due to flight cancellations caused by Hurricane Beryl, which hit the region with high intensity on Monday. The island was shut down as a precautionary measure, confining the players to their hotel.
BCCI managers have been attempting to arrange a private or charter flight to transport the players home, but they have faced obstacles due to the airport’s closure. As of Tuesday morning local time, Grantley Adams International Airport (GAIA) remains closed but is anticipated to reopen later today, allowing air traffic to resume.
Local media reported that the airport remained unaffected by Hurricane Beryl. Teams at GAIA were assessing the facility’s damages following the all-clear given by Minister of Home Affairs Wilfred Abrahams on Monday afternoon, with initial reports indicating minimal damage.
“We just need to ensure that when we do our assessment, everything is clean and safe to welcome our passengers. After the all-clear is given by the officials, our team needs to come in and do their assessment so that everyone else can have their operations run as smoothly as possible,” an airport official told Barbados Today.
Balaji has yet to accept the TN role.
The Tamil Nadu Cricket Association (TNCA) has confirmed to Cricbuzz that Lakshmipathy Balaji has been appointed as the coach of the state side for the upcoming domestic season. However, uncertainty remains about whether he will accept the role. He is currently contracted to the TNCA.
Balaji refused to comment on his plans, but sources indicate that the former Indian pacer has received another offer.
Balaji served as the assistant coach of Tamil Nadu last season under Sulakshan Kulkarni, who resigned after the team’s semifinal exit from the Ranji Trophy. Recently, Balaji was in the US as a television expert for the World Cup.
Meanwhile, BCCI secretary Jay Shah told journalists in Barbados that the new head coach and the rest of the support staff for the India team will take over from the Sri Lanka series scheduled later this month. The NCA staff, headed by VVS Laxman, is overseeing India’s tour of Zimbabwe.
SA players leave Barbados.
Members of the South Africa side, who lost to India in the final, managed to leave Barbados before Hurricane Beryl hit the island. Only three players—Keshav Maharaj, Ottneil Baartman, and Lungi Ngidi—were to return home after the final, with the rest departing Barbados to participate in the Major League Cricket (MLC) or Lanka Premier League (LPL)
