Pakistan-born USA players reportedly denied Indian visa for 2026 T20 World Cup

USA cricketer Ali Khan, who is a Pakistan-born American national, claimed on his Instagram story to have been denied an Indian visa ahead of the 2026 T20 World Cup. While there has been no official comment on the matter by any of the boards or the International Cricket Council (ICC), media reports deem the claim to be true.

USA players in training camp

The 18-member USA cricket team is currently in Sri Lanka, where they are holding a training camp. It is understood that 15 players from this pool will fly to India to play their World Cup games, with their first game scheduled against the hosts in Mumbai on February 7.

Besides Ali, at least three more USA players with Pakistan origins are likely to be part of the World Cup-bound squad. Mohammad Mohsin, who played a first-class game for Pakistan as recently as 2019, Ehsan Adil, who has represented Pakistan in three Tests and six ODIs, and Shayan Jahangir, a former Pakistan U-19 player, are all part of the same group.

Players awaiting ICC’s response

It is understood that players with Pakistan origins or nationality from other teams, especially associate nation teams, are also facing the same issue. While the ICC requires each board to arrange the logistics for the players in tournaments itself, the governing body can assist in the process if a need arises. However, it is reported that the ICC has yet to intervene in this recent visa denial matter.

It is worth noting here that because of the suspension of the USA Cricket (USAC), the ICC is responsible for USA players logistics for the World Cup.

This is hardly the first time players with Pakistan background have faced issues in acquiring Indian visas for tours and tournaments. Most notably, Australian cricketer Usman Khawaja and England spinners Shoaib Bashir and Adil Rashid, all three of a whom have Pakistan background, have endured their share of inconvenience while applying for the Indian visa in recent times.

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