Doha, March 5 (NationPress) The captain of the Indian men's national basketball team, Gurbaz Sandhu, recounted their situation in Doha, Qatar, where they are currently unable to leave due to the escalating West Asia crisis. He stated, 'We heard missile interceptions over Doha on Thursday, but we are safe at our hotel.' Sandhu emphasized that both players and staff are receiving proper care from the local authorities and officials.

The Indian team arrived in Doha to compete in the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2027 Asian Qualifiers, but their travel plans have been disrupted by the closure of airspace following the US-Israel strikes on Iran, which have caused turmoil in the Middle East.

“The Qatar Federation, along with the Basketball Federation of India (BFI) and the embassy, has ensured that we have accommodation in the same hotel where we previously stayed for our matches. Accommodation is not an issue; they have taken excellent care of us,” Sandhu told IANS.

Sandhu added that the team has stayed indoors at the hotel, where security measures are robust, allowing the players to remain safe. 'We are indoors, so security is fully guaranteed. While we cannot assure safety outside, we have not encountered any problems thus far.'

He further noted that although they can perceive the missile interceptions nearby, there have been no reported casualties or incidents in the vicinity of their hotel. 'No casualties have been reported near the hotel. We can certainly sense the interceptions, but nothing has occurred close to our location. All players and staff are safe and secure,' Sandhu stated.

The Indian squad was initially set to return home on the morning of March 4, but the closure of the airspace has necessitated a reassessment of their travel plans. Sandhu mentioned that representatives from the Indian embassy are in contact with the team, working alongside local authorities to monitor the situation as it unfolds.

“We were scheduled to return on the early morning of the 4th, but airspace restrictions have complicated matters. The ambassador visited us recently. The proximity of Qatar to the Iranian border is causing delays in reopening the airspace,” he explained.

Sandhu indicated that they are awaiting further updates regarding the reopening of the airspace, though current conditions suggest it may take longer than anticipated.

“At this moment, we have been informed to expect updates by tomorrow morning. However, the chances seem slim, as there were missile interceptions today here in Doha. If the situation deteriorates further, reopening the airspace will become increasingly challenging,” he noted.

Nonetheless, he mentioned that officials are considering alternative travel paths for the team’s return to India, stating, 'Currently, we are exploring the option of traveling to Riyadh. There are limited flights available from here. If we can complete the visa and other formalities, we aim to depart from Riyadh since flights are operational from there.'

The ongoing situation has also impacted the team's competitive schedule, leading to postponed matches in the qualifiers due to security concerns. Sandhu conveyed that FIBA will inform all teams of the updated schedule and ensure that matches are conducted before the next window.

“FIBA communicated a day later that the matches would be postponed. They assured us that the venues would remain unchanged, but the matches will be held shortly before the next window,” he concluded.