Prior to the T20 World Cup 2026, the visa situation for players born in Pakistan has improved, thanks to USA Cricket’s intervention in quieting the increasing international controversy. With India jointly hosting the T20 World Cup 2026, visas for Pakistan-born players were always going to be an update to keep an eye on. However, the ICC is clearly working on that.
A senior USA Cricket official has clarified that no visa application has been formally rejected so far, directly contradicting the claim made by fast bowler Ali Khan, who had earlier suggested on social media that four Pakistan-origin USA players had been denied Indian visas.
“I clarify that the visa issue is being handled by USA Cricket, which is currently administered by the ICC. It was erroneously conveyed by one player that the visas were rejected,” the official told Telecom Asia Sport. The statement comes days after Ali Khan posted a video claiming that he, along with Shayan Jahangir, Mohammad Mohsin and Ehsan Adil, had been refused visas for the tournament. While that post set off alarm bells, it now appears the process is still ongoing rather than shut.
Why Pakistan-origin players face delays in India?
All four cricketers were born in Pakistan and are now American citizens. Under Indian visa regulations, however, applicants are assessed based on country of birth, not current nationality, which automatically places their applications under stricter scrutiny and longer verification timelines.
One of the players named by Ali Khan separately confirmed that the visas are delayed, not denied, reinforcing the USA Cricket position. With the T20 World Cup scheduled to run from February 7 to March 8 across India and Sri Lanka, visa issues should be cleared sooner rather than later. The USA open their campaign against India in Mumbai on February 7, before facing Pakistan in Colombo on February 10, followed by matches against the Netherlands and Namibia.
The ICC has reportedly stepped in, issuing special directives to Indian embassies and high commissions to fast-track visa processing for Pakistan-origin players, hoping to avoid disruption. Several other teams, including UAE, Oman, Nepal, Canada, England, Zimbabwe and the Netherlands, also have Pakistan-born players in their squads. Italy could soon join that list. Visa problems at ICC events are nothing new. Similar issues surfaced in 2019, 2023 and as recently as last season with multiple players facing delays or denials.
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