The visa issues that had been hovering over the T20 World Cup 2026 has finally begun to clear. After weeks of uncertainty around players of Pakistani origin, the International Cricket Council (ICC) has stepped in to push the paperwork across the finish line.
Visa issues are always part of headlines whenever India hosts an international tournament. While the Pakistan team will not travel to India as part of their truce since the ODI Champions Trophy, there are other Pakistan-origin players who had some visa-related issues. However, now, as per PTI, the England and Netherlands players have been granted visas for India.
Adil Rashid, Rehan Ahmed get Indian visas
Among the first to get the green light are England spinners Adil Rashid and Rehan Ahmed along with pacer Saqib Mahmood. The trio, all key starting members of England’s T20 World Cup 2026 plans, were earlier stuck in limbo despite the ECB insisting that no objections had been raised against their applications. Similar approvals have reached members of the Netherlands squad and Canada staff member Shah Saleem Zafar.
A total of 42 players and officials across multiple teams fall under the Pakistan-origin category, and their movement needed careful coordination with Indian High Commissions around the world. With the tournament set to begin on February 7, the governing body has been racing against the January 31 visa deadline.
ICC steps in for T20 World Cup
The ICC has taken control of the process, scheduling appointments for players from the USA, UAE, Italy, Bangladesh and Canada early next week. Reports suggest that the remaining cases are in the final stages, and assurances have been received that no file will be left hanging.
The earlier panic was triggered when USA pacer Ali Khan claimed on social media that four American cricketers had been denied visas. USA Cricket later clarified that the applications were still under review and had not been rejected. It looks like all the preparation will fall into place now.
Indian regulations assess visa applicants based on country of birth rather than current nationality, which naturally slows down files linked to Pakistan. Additional background checks are standard, especially for a global event being co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka.
