Doha, March 5 (NationPress) The Indian men's national basketball team is currently stranded in Doha due to the turmoil in West Asia. Team manager Sajid Rahman informed IANS that if the airspace restrictions in the Middle East persist, they might return home via an alternative route through Riyadh.

The Indian squad, present in Doha for the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2027 Asian Qualifiers, has faced difficulties in proceeding with their schedule or returning home because regional airspace has been closed following the US-Israel conflict with Iran.

Rahman, who is also the General Secretary of the Assam Basketball Association, stated that officials from the Basketball Federation of India (BFI) and the Indian embassy are actively working on contingency plans while keeping an eye on the evolving situation.

“The airspace is anticipated to remain closed for another 2-3 days. Our return to India might be routed through Riyadh. We could travel to Riyadh and then fly back to India from there as a backup option,” Rahman detailed to IANS.

The team initially planned to head to Lebanon for their subsequent match, but the unexpected escalation in the region has forced them to remain confined to their hotel.

“We were scheduled to travel to Lebanon on the 28th for a match. Suddenly, the attack occurred, and we had to stay put in the hotel. The embassy and the BFI have taken all necessary measures to ensure the safety and security of our players, and we've been in the hotel since the 28th,” he explained.

Rahman emphasized that consistent communication has been maintained between the team management, the federation, and Indian diplomatic officials based in Qatar.

“We held a meeting today with the BFI, and the federation remains in contact with the embassy here in Qatar. An embassy representative visited us yesterday for discussions,” he added.

If the closure of airspace continues, the Indian team may need to travel several hundred kilometers by road before catching a flight from Riyadh.

“If the airspace remains closed, we may have to take this longer route. The BFI president and secretary are considering security measures for the journey, as we would be traveling approximately 500 kilometers. They are working on the necessary security arrangements,” he stated.

However, Rahman indicated that this plan would only be executed if current restrictions remain in effect. “Otherwise, if conditions improve, we will proceed through Riyadh,” he remarked.

Despite the disruptions, Rahman is confident that the postponed match will not negatively impact the team's performance in the qualifiers. “The match cancellation won't affect the team, as it will be rescheduled. We currently have no information on the new date, but we will relay it to the BFI as soon as we receive updates,” he concluded.