The victorious Indian cricket team, triumphant in the recently concluded T20 World Cup, has encountered a delay in their departure from the Caribbean island. Their scheduled charter flight, Air India's AIC24WC, has yet to arrive, leaving the squad stranded for the past three days due to Hurricane Beryl's disruptive presence.
The special flight, originating from New Jersey, USA, was expected to touch down in Barbados around 2 am local time. However, unforeseen circumstances have necessitated a revised departure time of 4:30 am. This delay will prolong the team's journey, adding 16 hours of flying time before they reach their destination, Delhi. Their arrival in India is now projected for Thursday at 6 am IST.
The team's departure was initially scheduled for July 2, but Hurricane Beryl's impact forced a postponement. Its fury has since diminished from a Category 5 storm to a Category 4, though it continues to pose a threat as it tracks towards Jamaica.
The Grantley Adams International Airport, the departure point for the Indian team, resumed operations on Tuesday, signaling the gradual restoration of normalcy after the hurricane's passage.
Upon their return, the players will be honored by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, although the details of this event remain to be finalized.
