South Africa and West Indies cricket team (Agency Image)

Former England captain Michael Vaughan has criticised what he believes is unequal treatment of teams following their exit from the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, pointing out that some sides are still stranded in India while others have already been allowed to leave.England were knocked out of the tournament after losing their semi-final to the India national cricket team on Thursday. According to Vaughan, the English side is set to return home on a charter flight soon after the defeat.However, the situation has been very different for other teams. The West Indies cricket team, who were eliminated last Sunday after a five-wicket loss to India in the Super Eights, are still waiting in Kolkata to travel back. The South Africa national cricket team are also stuck in the same city after their semi-final defeat to the New Zealand national cricket team on March 4.Taking to X, Vaughan questioned the disparity and suggested that influence at the global level of the International Cricket Council should not determine how teams are treated once they exit a tournament.“So England got knocked out on Thurs get a charter home today .. West Indies go out last Sunday and are still in Kolkata .. SA in the same position .. That’s where the power is all wrong .. All teams in this situation should be treated the same .. just because you are more powerful at the ICC table shouldn’t count ..,” Vaughan wrote.

Michael Vaughan post

The travel complications are largely due to charter flights arranged by the ICC being affected by international airspace restrictions linked to security concerns in the Gulf region amid the ongoing tensions between Israel and Iran.Frustration over the delay has also been visible within the West Indies camp. Head coach Daren Sammy recently shared a short but telling message on X that reflected the team’s mood. The former West Indies captain posted, “I just wanna go home.”The tournament is now nearing its conclusion, with defending champions India national cricket team set to face the New Zealand national cricket team in the final on Sunday in Ahmedabad. The competition began on February 7 across venues in India and Sri Lanka.

The date, time, and other vital details of the T20 World Cup 2026 closing ceremony have been announced. India and New Zealand will face off in the final on Sunday, March 8, at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad.

Notably, the closing ceremony of the T20 World Cup 2026 will take place on the same day at the same venue. The gates will open at 3:30 PM IST, while the performances are set to begin at 5:30 PM IST. Renowned Puerto Rican singer Ricky Martin is among the stars who are set to perform at the closing ceremony.

New Zealand beat South Africa in the semifinal by nine wickets, whereas India pulled off a close seven-run victory over England in the second semifinal. The Kiwis have never won the T20 World Cup trophy. On the other hand, the Men in Blue have won it twice and are also the defending champions, having won the previous edition in 2024.

New Zealand will aim to win their first-ever trophy in the history of the tournament, while India will look to create history by defending their title. No team has ever won back-to-back trophies before.

When is the T20 World Cup 2026 Closing Ceremony?

The closing ceremony of the marquee event will take place on Sunday, March 8. While the gates will open at 3:30 PM IST, the performances will begin at 5:30 PM IST.

Where is the T20 World Cup 2026 Closing Ceremony?

The closing ceremony of the tournament will take place in Ahmedabad. The Narendra Modi Stadium is the venue for the same.

Who will perform at T20 World Cup 2026 Closing Ceremony?

The crowd are set to witness blockbuster performances at the closing ceremony. Famous Puerto Rican singer Ricky Martin will set the stage on fire. Along with him, popular Indian singer Sukhbir, often referred to as the “Prince of Bhangra”, will also be performing.

Further, famous Gujarati folk singer, performing artist and composer, Falguni Pathak, will also entertain the crowd with her mesmerising music.

Where to watch T20 World Cup 2026 Closing Ceremony live?

The live streaming of the closing ceremony will be telecast across the Star Sports Network channels. It will also be available on the JioHotstar website and app for online viewers.

It will be interesting to see whether India retains their title or a new champion will emerge.