India’s victorious T20 World Cup team faces an unexpected delay in their return due to Hurricane Beryl, now a Category 4 storm, causing significant disruption in Barbados. The powerful hurricane, the first of the 2024 Atlantic season, has shut down the Barbados airport, stranding Team India and accompanying media.
An ANI video on social media platform ‘X’ shows severe downpour and strong winds in Barbados, resulting in flight cancellations and a complete citywide shutdown. The video caption reads, “Hurricane hits Barbados, airport shut down until further order. Curfew imposed in the city from 6 pm, all stores and offices shut down. Team India and media from India stuck in Barbados as all flights cancelled.”
The southeast Caribbean remains on high alert as Hurricane Beryl, churning about 565km (350 miles) east of Barbados, threatens the region with catastrophic winds, a life-threatening storm surge, and damaging waves. The US National Hurricane Center (NHC) warns that Beryl’s eye is expected to move across the Windward Islands early Monday, impacting Martinique, Saint Lucia, and Grenada.
Barbados, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Grenada, and Tobago are under hurricane warnings, while tropical storm warnings or watches are in effect for Martinique, Dominica, and Trinidad. Bridgetown sees long lines at filling stations, crowded supermarkets, and residents boarding up homes.
The announcement of India’s new cricket coach is postponed. Frontrunners are Gautam Gambhir, a former batsman and recent IPL-winning coach, and W.V. Raman, an ex-Indian cricketer and former women’s team coach. BCCI secretary Jay Shah confirmed the candidates are shortlisted, with the final decision pending the team’s return to Mumbai.
India’s seven-run victory against South Africa in the T20 World Cup final marked their first global tournament win since the 2013 Champions Trophy. Former batsman V.V.S. Laxman will coach the team for their upcoming tour of Zimbabwe, with the new coach taking over for the Sri Lanka tour starting July 27.