We hear West Indies cricketers are now on the verge of leaving for home following the 2026 ICC Twenty20 Cricket World Cup which hosts India won on Sunday — conquering New Zealand in the final.

Because of war which begun just over a week ago with United States and Israel attacking Iran, West Indies, who played their last game on March 1 — losing to India — have been stranded in that country since.

News reports Sunday said the Caribbean men will share a chartered flight with the South African squad to Johannesburg on Tuesday before returning home.

The war has forced airlines to restrict, even scrap flights through the Middle East and sections of wider West Asia, forcing World Cup organisers to find innovative ways to get cricketers home.

It’s a reality check, a reminder of how easily well-laid plans can be undermined, overturned by totally unexpected external actions.

Already, Jamaicans — like all others — are bracing for the economic shocks that will flow from a full-scale war in what is the world’s leading oil-producing region.

A surge in oil prices is currently ongoing.

Jamaicans who were around and aware in the 1970s recall with trepidation the economic jolt from escalating oil prices flowing from Arab-Israeli conflicts of that time.

In sport, the war raises questions about FIFA’s football World Cup — alongside the Olympics long considered the globe’s most prestigious sporting event — which is scheduled for USA, Mexico and Canada from June to July.

Given the sheer military might of the US-Israeli alliance it seems reasonable to suppose this war will end quickly.

But extreme instability seems likely to remain.

And let’s not forget that Iran is among those nations to have qualified for the World Cup. Iran’s national footballers are scheduled to play their first-round games in the US.

What now?

Just recently, we noted the uncertainty caused by unrest in Mexico following the killing of an alleged drug cartel leader in that country. That’s ahead of inter-confederation play-offs involving Jamaica, with a place at the World Cup at stake.

For FIFA, this new war in the Middle East has not only heightened uncertainty, it has created a monumental headache.

To get back to the T20 Cricket World Cup, we join all those who have commended the West Indies for what was a generally good performance, giving hope for further advances. That’s although they lost badly to South Africa and subsequently to India in a tight game.

On the plus side, the West Indies’ finest achievement was a dominant first-round win over England.

West Indies captain, Mr Shai Hope justifiably claims his team secured the right to hold their heads high.

Equally appropriate, in our view, was praise from Cricket West Indies President Dr Kishore Shallow, who said the Caribbean men showed “growth, belief and togetherness” as well as a “spirit of resolve and fight”.

Undoubtedly, coach Mr Daren Sammy and his support staff, as well as Mr Hope and his team, also learnt important T20 lessons in this just-ended World Cup. None more so than the need for an explosive batting approach early in an innings, especially in good batting conditions.

In the final, India’s batsmen demonstrated that to perfection, scoring 92 runs in the first six overs — the so-called power play — when only two fielders are allowed outside the 30-yard circle. After the power play as many as five fielders are permitted outside the circle.

On good pitches in T20 cricket, striving for that early momentum is clearly the way to go.