The flight had taken a longer route over Africa to avoid conflict zones but made a U-turn near the Ethiopia-Eritrea border and headed back to Delhi, landing at around 2:30 PM. This resulted in a 14-hour journey that ended where it began.
India's star batter Tilak Varma expressed his enthusiasm on his side's T20 World Cup fixture against arch-rival Pakistan in Colombo on Sunday after the Goverment of Pakistan made a U-turn on their stance of boycotting the match against the defending champions.
Earlier on Monday, the Pakistan Government directed its national cricket team to take the field on February 15 for their scheduled fixture against the defending champions, India, in the ICC Men's T20 World Cup.
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman and the country's interior minister, Mohsin Naqvi, on Tuesday said Pakistan's sole aim in their boycott stand-off with the ICC was to gain Bangladesh some "respect".
Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Tuesday took a jibe at Pakistan for backtracking on their decision to boycott the T20 World Cup match against India, stating that they shouldn't threaten if they don't have the strength to stand behind it.
Pakistan had announced an earlier boycott of the much-anticipated match against India; however, on Monday, the Government of Pakistan reversed its decision and directed its national cricket team to take the field on February 15 for their scheduled fixture in Colombo.
Pakistan, after an earlier announcement to boycott the much-anticipated match against India on Monday, reversed course after the Government of Pakistan directed its national cricket team to take the field on February 15 for their scheduled fixture against the Men in Blue.
Former cricketer Atul Wassan called Pakistan's U-turn on their boycott of the T20 World Cup 2026 match against India a "drama," criticising their changing stances. He also noted that such "shenanigans" are demoralising Pakistan's own players.
Virat Kohli's childhood coach Rajkumar Sharma has reacted after Pakistan's withdrawal of the boycott they had earlier announced for their match against India in the T20 World Cup 2026, saying "it was all a drama from Pakistan".
Former India all-rounder Irfan Pathan said that Pakistan can make a "U-turn" any time regarding their decision to boycott their ICC T20 World Cup 2026 group-stage match against India, scheduled for February 15 at Colombo.
Speaking during an address at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Merz said, "This new world of great powers is being built on power, on strength, and when it comes to it, on force." He added, "It's not a cozy place."