The International Cricket Council has denied accusations of preferential treatment towards England after it emerged that the West Indies have had to source commercial flights home following their T20 World Cup exit.
The West Indies have been stranded in Kolkata since being eliminated from the tournament on March 1, with travel arrangements back to the Caribbean disrupted by the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.
England have already landed back in the UK following their semi-final exit on March 5, but the West Indies and South Africa remain stuck in India after their charter flights fell through.
In a statement, the ICC rejected accusations of unfairness or bias, insisting that travel delays have been significantly impacted by the crisis affecting major transit hubs in the Gulf region.
"The ICC rejects any suggestion that these decisions have been driven by anything other than safety, feasibility and welfare. Suggestions otherwise across a variety of media platforms from people uninformed of the situation are as unhelpful as they are incorrect," the statement read.
"There is no link between arrangements made in the cases of South Africa and the West Indies and those made previously for England or any other nation, which arose from separate circumstances, routing options and different travel conditions.
"Throughout this period, the ICC's overriding priority has been the safety and welfare of everyone affected, including players travelling with spouses and young children. We will not move people until we are satisfied that the travel solution in place is safe, and that commitment will not change."
Several West Indies players and staff have already taken matters into their own hands after an "increasingly distressing" wait for ICC‑arranged travel that has yet to materialise.
"Ongoing uncertainty surrounding the ICC‑organised charter, as a result of global tensions and aviation regulations, made the situation increasingly distressing," a Cricket West Indies statement read.
"In the interest of the wellbeing and safety of its players and support staff, Cricket West Indies advised the ICC that it was no longer prudent to continue waiting on the charter arrangements, which remain uncertain.
"Multiple approaches have since been made through CWI, players, and other partners, in coordination with the ICC, to secure commercial travel to facilitate the squad's safe return."
On Wednesday, the ICC confirmed that the West Indies and South Africa cricket teams had begun departing India.
"Four South Africa players and five family members have boarded flights and are making their way home, with all 29 remaining members of their contingent scheduled to depart in the next 24 hours," an update read.
"Of the West Indies contingent, nine members have departed for the Caribbean, while the remaining 16 are booked on flights departing India in the next 12 hours."
