Doha, March 5 (NationPress) The Indian men's national basketball team has found itself in a difficult situation in Doha due to the escalating tensions in West Asia. Team manager Sajid Rahman informed IANS on Thursday that they may need to find an alternative route back home through Riyadh if the airspace restrictions in the Middle East persist.

Currently, the Indian squad is in Doha after arriving for the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2027 Asian Qualifiers. Their plans to continue with their schedule or return home have been hindered by the closure of airspace in the region, a consequence of the US-Israel military actions against Iran.

Rahman, who also serves as the General Secretary of the Assam Basketball Association, mentioned that officials from the Basketball Federation of India (BFI) and the Indian embassy are actively assessing the situation and developing contingency plans.

“The airspace is not expected to reopen for another 2-3 days. We might consider returning to India via Riyadh. The current plan is to travel to Riyadh first and then catch a flight back to India. This route is being explored as a backup option,” Rahman stated to IANS.

The team was initially scheduled to proceed to Lebanon for their next match, but the sudden escalation in violence in the region has kept them confined to their hotel.

“On the 28th, we were slated to travel to Lebanon for a match. However, due to the unexpected attack, we have remained at the hotel since then. The embassy and the BFI have made arrangements to ensure the safety and security of our players,” he added.

Rahman indicated that regular updates are being communicated between the team management, the federation, and Indian diplomatic representatives in Qatar.

“We had a meeting today with the BFI, and they are in close contact with the embassy here in Qatar. A representative from the embassy visited yesterday to discuss our situation,” he explained.

If the airspace remains closed, the Indian team might have to undertake a lengthy road journey of several hundred kilometers before catching a flight from Riyadh.

“If airspace restrictions continue, we may need to take this longer route. The BFI president and secretary are currently deliberating on security measures for our travel, given that we might cover about 500 kilometers,” he noted.

Rahman emphasized that this plan would only be enacted if the current restrictions persist. “If things improve, we will indeed go through Riyadh,” he said.

Despite the disruptions, Rahman believes that the postponement of matches will not adversely affect the team’s performance in the qualifiers. “The match cancellation won’t impact our campaign, as it will be rescheduled. We are awaiting further information on the new date, which we will relay to the BFI once confirmed,” he concluded.