The T20 World Cup-winning cricket team from India will finally be able to fly home on Tuesday after being stranded in Barbados due to Hurricane Beryl, a powerful storm in the Caribbean. The team celebrated their seven-run victory over South Africa on Saturday to lift the trophy, but their departure was delayed due to the airport suspending operations as the storm approached.
The storm had intensified to a Category 5 Atlantic hurricane on Monday, becoming the earliest on record. Barbados Prime Minister Mia Mottley announced that the airport would resume operations within the next six to 12 hours to facilitate those who were meant to leave.
Hurricane Beryl made landfall on Carriacou Island in Grenada, causing significant damage and one reported death. Other areas in the Caribbean, including St. Vincent and the Grenadines as well as Barbados, suffered from power outages and damage to numerous homes. The storm continued to gain strength with winds reaching 165 miles per hour and was expected to impact Jamaica, prompting disaster response measures to be activated.
India’s T20 World Cup victory marked an emotional moment for the team, their first win since 2007. The celebration came after a tough year for many players who had faced disappointment in other major cricket events earlier in the year.