New Delhi: The International Cricket Council insisted delay in team departures from the T20 World Cup is beyond its control while rejecting suggestions of favouritism even as it continues to make exit plans prioritising safety and welfare of players and their families.

The ongoing crisis in the Gulf region has caused widespread disruption that continues to trouble international air travel, which has made travel solution significantly more complex and time-consuming than under normal circumstances.

But since a charter plane sent England back home within days of their defeat in the semi-finals while West Indies and South Africa remained stranded in India, questions were raised over ICC’s perceived double standards.

West Indies coach Darren Sammy, South African players Quinton de Kock, David Miller and former England captain Michael Vaughan criticised ICC.

However, the governing body has clarified that “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,” ICC said in a statement.

The ICC has been engaged continuously with airlines, charter operators, airport authorities, ground handlers, and government stakeholders across multiple jurisdictions to secure safe homeward travel for all affected groups as quickly as possible. That work remains ongoing.”

Suggestions of favouritism were not only unhelpful but incorrect, ICC pointed out.

“On current arrangements, the South Africa contingent will begin departing for South Africa tonight, with all members expected to have departed within the next 36 hours.

“Of the West Indies contingent, nine members are already travelling to the Caribbean, while the remaining 16 are booked on flights departing India within the next 24 hours. We will provide updates on further departures as confirmed arrangements are in place,” ICC said.

“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.

“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.”