T20 World Cup: Visas denied to Pakistan-origin USA players? Here’s the truth

Pakistani-original USA players are facing visa delays ahead of the T20 World Cup 2026 hosted by India and Sri Lanka. However, there have been widespread reports claiming their visas have been denied.

The controversy surrounding the T20 World Cup 2026 shows no signs of easing, with reports emerging that USA players of Pakistani origin have been refused visas to travel to India for the tournament. The event is scheduled to begin on February 7 and will be jointly hosted by India and Sri Lanka.

T20 World Cup

The issue came to light after USA cricketer Ali Khan posted an Instagram story suggesting that his visa application for the tournament had been rejected. Ali Khan shared a photograph of himself dining at a restaurant with a teammate, captioning it, “India visa denied but KFC for the win.

However, according to a report by Cricbuzz, the visa approval process remains ongoing and there has been no formal rejection. Officials have indicated that the applications are still under review as part of established operating procedures.

Four USA cricketers of Pakistani origin — Ali Khan, Shayan Jahangir, Mohammad Mohsin and Ehsan Adil — are currently awaiting visa confirmation after completing their appointments at the Indian Embassy in Sri Lanka on Tuesday, January 13. The USA squad is presently in Sri Lanka as part of the final phase of their preparations for the tournament.

The report further stated that visas were not issued at the appointment stage but have not been formally rejected either. The Indian Embassy has informed the USA team management that while some of the required documentation has been received, additional information is still awaited from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, following which the visa process will proceed further.

Visa applications involving players of Pakistani origin have historically been subject to additional administrative scrutiny, regardless of nationality or team representation. Similar procedures have been followed in the past for

Such cases typically require clearances from multiple government departments, with final approval resting with India’s Ministry of External Affairs. This process operates independently of sporting authorities or host nation organizers.

Notably, these protocols are applied consistently across all teams participating in the World Cup. Squads from nations including the UAE, Canada, Oman and Italy — all of which feature players of Pakistani origin — are also expected to undergo the same visa clearance procedures.

Concerns about visas have intensified for the USA cricket team ahead of the T20 World Cup in India,

Concerns about visas have intensified for the USA cricket team ahead of the T20 World Cup in India, following the delays in travel clearance for three more Pakistan-born players. The development comes a day after fast bowler Ali Khan encountered a similar issue following scheduled appointments at the Indian High Commission in Colombo.

According to a report in Cricbuzz, Shayan Jahangir, Mohammad Mohsin and Ehsan Adil are awaiting visa clearance to travel to India for the ICC tournament, which is set to commence early next month.

The entire USA squad is presently in Sri Lanka for its final round of World Cup preparations, with the remaining players having completed their visa appointments on Tuesday. The report added that while there have been no formal visa rejections, the applications of the four players remain under review as part of “established operating procedures.” Sources in the ICC confirmed that all required documents were submitted ahead of the appointments.

“They had the appointment this morning at the Indian Embassy in Sri Lanka. They completed the paperwork as per what the ICC had asked them to prior to the appointments. At the appointment, the players were informed that the visas could not be processed at this stage. Later in the evening, USA management received a call from the Indian Embassy indicating that some of the required information had been received, while additional inputs were still awaited from the Foreign Ministry. Once that process is complete, they will be contacted to proceed further. That is the current status” said the source.

While the report clarified that the review process in special-category cases is routine and is being handled in accordance with Indian government protocols, Ali Khan’s social media post, referring to a “visa denial” on Tuesday, sparked speculation online.

This is not the first instance of Pakistan-origin players facing visa clearance issues due to the additional administrative layers involved in the review process, regardless of team affiliation. International cricketers such as Moeen Ali, Shoaib Bashir and Usman Khawaja have previously went through similar procedures. The report added that in such cases, timelines often extend beyond initial appointments, as clearances are required from multiple departments, including final approval from India’s Ministry of External Affairs.

The visa uncertainty comes amidst broader questions surrounding the upcoming World Cup, stemming from ongoing friction between the Bangladesh Cricket Board and the ICC over Bangladesh’s reluctance to tour India for its scheduled fixtures.

The USA find themselves in the same group as India and Pakistan and will commence their campaign on February 7 against the defending champions in Mumbai.

NEW DELHI:

A viral social media post by USA fast bowler Ali Khan sparked widespread speculation on Tuesday, with claims that India had denied visas to US cricketers of Pakistan origin ahead of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup. However, officials familiar with the process have clarified that no visas have been formally rejected and that the matter remains part of a standard administrative review.

Four US players of Pakistan origin — Ali Khan, Shayan Jahangir, Mohammad Mohsin and Ehsan Adil — are currently awaiting visa clearance after attending scheduled appointments at the Indian High Commission in Colombo on January 13. The players are in Sri Lanka with the USA squad as part of their final phase of preparation for the February tournament.
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