The controversy surrounding the T20 World Cup 2026 continues, as reports shows that USA players of Pakistan descent have been denied visas to travel to India for the tournament. The event set to start on February 7 and co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka.
Visas Denied to Pakistan-Origin USA Players
This issue came to light when USA cricketer Ali Khan posted an Instagram story revealing that his visa application for the tournament had been denied. He shared a photo of himself eating at a restaurant with a teammate, captioning it, “India visa denied but KFC for the win.”
However, a report states that the visa clearance process is still active, and there has been no formal rejection. Officials mentioned that the applications reviewed as part of standard procedures.
Four USA cricketers waiting for visa confirmation
Four USA cricketers of Pakistani origin, includes Ali Khan, Shayan Jahangir, Mohammad Mohsin, and Ehsan Adil are waiting for visa confirmation after attending their appointments at the Indian Embassy in Sri Lanka on Tuesday, January 13. The USA squad is in Sri Lanka for the final stage of their preparations for the tournament.
The report also mentioned that visas not granted at the appointment stage, but they not official rejected either. The Indian Embassy informed the USA team management that while some required documents received, they still waiting for additional information from the Ministry of External Affairs. After that, the visa process will move forward.
Visa applications from players of Pakistan usually face extra administrative checks, regardless of nationality or team. Similar procedures applied in the past for international cricketers like Moeen Ali, Shoaib Bashir, and Usman Khawaja when traveling to India.
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