'Cristiano, help!', Akeal Hosein’s plea to Ronaldo as Windies remain stranded in Kolkata
West Indies' T20 World Cup 2026 campaign ended in Kolkata against India, leaving the team stranded due to geopolitical tensions affecting flights from West Asia.
Last Updated: 04.14 PM, Mar 06, 2026
Although it has been nearly a week since the West Indies ended their 2026 T20 World Cup campaign at Eden Gardens in Kolkata against India, they have not been able to leave India due to the current geopolitical situation around the globe and West Asia. The two-time champions are stuck in Kolkata after their defeat. And that has made Akeal Hosein, their spinner, seek help from the only man he believes might have a faster solution than ICC, Cristiano Ronaldo.
The SOS (save our squad) post
Taking to X (formerly Twitter), Hosein posted a cheeky message tagging the football legend, Cristiano Ronaldo, asking him to send a jet for him and the team to rescue them from Kolkata at the moment.
West Indies head coach Daren Sammy had already set the tone earlier this week with his viral "I just wanna go home" and "At least give us an update" posts on social media after the team got stuck in Kolkata.
Although a few Zimbabwean players were seen playing 'Holi' while being stuck in India, it looks like the West Indian players are not enjoying their 'unplanned holiday' in the City of Joy.
Why are they still in Kolkata?
The West Indies team were eliminated on March 1, after a five-week defeat to India. However, the current situation in West Asia, especially in Dubai and Doha, has seen thousands of flight cancellations due to the escalation of U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran recently. That's why the West Indies team, who are supposed to return to their country via Dubai, had to be stuck in Kolkata.
So, currently, the West Indies do not have a 'safe corridor' to fly through to the Caribbean. The players have been restricted to their team hotel, and are reportedly forced to spend time with FIFA tournaments and rooftop gym sessions at the heart of City of Joy.
Read also: 'From being dropped...', fans hail Sanju Samson for this achievement in ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026
ICC stepped in to rescue
The ICC has finally stepped in to rescue the whole squad in this tough situation. Following Sammy’s anguished requests, reports confirmed today that a private charter flight has been arranged and the team is expected to fly out of Kolkata within the next 24 hours.
However, with the IPL 2026 coming in the next few weeks, players like Rovman Powell (KKR), Sherfane Rutherford (MI), and Shimron Hetmyer (RR) might not be in such a rush to leave the country and stay here till the IPL ends.
How to watch the India vs New Zealand, T20 World Cup 2026 final match?
Cricket fans in India can watch the India vs New Zealand, T20 World Cup 2026 final match on JioHotstar, accessible via OTTplay Premium.