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Visa Row Hits T20 World Cup 2026 as Pakistani-Origin Cricketers Await Clearance
T20 World Cup 2026: This problem primarily concerns players who were born in Pakistan but are now citizens of other countries. According to India's visa rules, individuals born in Pakistan must apply using the passport of their country of birth, leading to additional scrutiny and delays.
As there are only a few months left for the T20 World Cup 2026 to start, the event, to be staged in India and Sri Lanka, is already mired in controversy. First, there has been a refusal to play in India from the Bangladesh cricket team, and now there are reports that Pakistani players have been denied Indian visas.
The matter at hand revolves around players who have origins in Pakistan but are now nationals of other countries. The visa regulations in India require players who have origins in Pakistan to apply for visas through the passport of their country of origin. This results in players facing additional screening.
Four Pakistani-origin players on the US team-pacers Ali Khan, Shayan Jahangir, Mohammad Mohsin, and Ehsan Adil-are among the most affected. "Yes, it's true that three Pakistani-origin players haven't received Indian visas, which means we won't be able to participate in the T20 World Cup," Ali Khan said in a video message to Telecom Asia Sport. However, USA Cricket later clarified that the visas were not "denied," but "delayed," and the ICC is helping to resolve the issue. These four players are included in the US team's 20-member probable squad, and the USA's first match is against India in Mumbai on February 7.
Similarly, England spinners Adil Rashid and Rehan Ahmed, both of Pakistani origin, are also facing visa delays. The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has confirmed that the applications were submitted on time, and assurances have been received from the Indian government that there are no objections. However, due to processing delays, these players are unable to travel with the team for the Sri Lanka tour (warm-up matches). The ECB is working to expedite the process with the help of the British government and hopes to receive visas before the start of the World Cup.
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This problem has previously plagued players of Pakistani origin. Sikander Zulfiqar and Saqib Zulfiqar were denied visas in 2019. Siraj Ahmed received a delayed visa for the 2023 World Cup. Australian opener Usman Khawaja faced this problem in 2017. During India's last tour of England, off-spinner Shoaib Bashir was ruled out of the first Test. He was with the team in the UAE but had to return to London due to the visa process not being completed.
