Indian team set to fly out of Barbados on Tuesday

After being stranded in Barbados for the last two days, the victorious Indian team is all set to fly out of the island on Tuesday (July 2) evening. India finally ended an 11-year ICC trophy drought with a nerve-wracking seven-run win over first-time finalists South Africa in Barbados on Saturday (June 29).

Hurricane Beryl’s widespread effect had not only affected Barbados but also nearby islands, forcing all the airports in the vicinity to be shut. Barbados’ Prime Minister Mia Mottley confirmed that the airport will be ‘operational’, allowing the Indian team and the extended support staff to fly home via chartered flight on Tuesday evening. 

"I don't want to speak in advance of it, but I have literally been in touch with the airport personnel and they're doing their last checks now and we want to resume normal operations as a matter of urgency," Mottley told PTI.

"There are a number of people who were due to leave last night late or today or tomorrow morning. And we want to make sure that we can facilitate those persons, so I would anticipate that within the next six to 12 hours the airport will be open."

According to PTI’s reports, the Men in Blue are expected to leave Barbados at 6 PM local time and reach Delhi on Wednesday at 7.45 PM IST. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi will later felicitate the players in Delhi. 

"[We have] been working to ensure that everyone is safe in Barbados, Barbadians and all of the visitors, of course, who came for the cricket World Cup," Mottley said. 

The effect of the Hurricane on the shores has been immense, with a lot of damage to the infrastructure on the island, with Barbados being in the lockdown since Sunday evening. 

"We were very blessed that the storm did not come on land. The hurricane was 80 miles south of us, which limited the level of damage on shore. But as you can see, infrastructure and coastal assets have been badly damaged.”

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