US Cricket Official Denies Visa Rejection Claims for Pakistan-Origin Players Ahead of T20 World Cup: Report

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A United States cricket official has dismissed reports suggesting that India has denied visas to four Pakistan-born American players ahead of the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026, confirming instead that the applications are still being processed.

The official clarification comes after USA fast bowler Ali Khan published a social media video asserting that he, along with teammates Shayan Jahangir, Mohammad Mohsin, and Ehsan Adil, had been refused entry to India for the tournament.

The unnamed USA Cricket official clarified that Ali Khan's comments stemmed from a misunderstanding as per News18. "The visas are delayed, not denied," the official explained, adding that the International Cricket Council (ICC) is overseeing the visa arrangements for all participating teams. One of the four players also confirmed to media outlets that the applications remain "in process," contradicting any suggestion of outright rejection.

All four cricketers were born in Pakistan but now hold US citizenship. However, Indian visa policy requires anyone born in Pakistan-regardless of current nationality-to apply using their country-of-birth passports. This procedural requirement often extends processing times and has led to complications in the past.

With India and Sri Lanka set to co-host the T20 World Cup from February 7 to March 8, the matter has attracted global attention. The issue is not limited to the United States, as players from as many as eight other countries could face similar delays, including those from the UAE, Oman, Nepal, Canada, England, Zimbabwe, the Netherlands, and possibly Italy.

Sources within the ICC say the governing body has already issued special instructions to Indian embassies and High Commissions worldwide to ensure visa applications of Pakistan-origin players are handled under an expedited category. The ICC is optimistic that these measures will prevent further disruptions.

Visa complications of this nature are not unprecedented. Past cases include the Zulfiqar brothers' delays during the 2019 season, Shiraz Ahmed ahead of the 2023 World Cup, Australia's Usman Khawaja in 2017, and England's Rehan Ahmed and Shoaib Basheer in early 2024.

Despite the current concerns, the ICC has reiterated its commitment to assisting all teams, although officials concede that the additional workload has made the build-up to the tournament more challenging than usual.