USA players of Pakistani origin await visa clearance ahead of T20 WC

USA players of Pakistani origin await visa clearance ahead of T20 WC

Four US cricketers of Pakistani origin—Ali Khan, Shayan Jahangir, Mohammad Mohsin, and Ehsan Adil—are awaiting visa clearance to travel to India for the upcoming ICC Men's T20 World Cup. They attended scheduled appointments at the Indian High Commission in Colombo.

The players, currently in Sri Lanka with the USA squad for final tournament preparations, completed their visa appointments. Visas were not issued immediately, but there has been no formal rejection. Officials indicate the applications remain under review as per standard procedures.

According to ICC sources, all required documentation was submitted ahead of the appointments. After the appointments, USA management was informed that some required information had been received, while additional inputs were still awaited from India's Foreign Ministry. Once complete, they will be contacted to proceed further.

Officials noted this review process is standard for special-category cases, handled according to Indian government protocols. Public attention arose after Ali Khan posted an Instagram story referencing 'visa denial,' sparking social media speculation.

Historically, visa reviews for players of Pakistani origin involve additional administrative layers, regardless of nationality. Similar processes have applied to international cricketers like Moeen Ali, Shoaib Bashir, and Usman Khawaja when traveling to India. Sources reiterated the applications are active and under consideration, with timelines often extending beyond initial appointments.

These cases typically require clearances from multiple departments and final approval from India's Ministry of External Affairs, independent of sporting bodies or tournament organizers.

The same procedures apply to all World Cup teams, including squads from the UAE, Canada, Oman, and Italy, which also include players of Pakistani origin.

The visa issue adds to uncertainties surrounding the tournament. Administrative friction has marked the lead-up, notably the unresolved impasse between the Bangladesh Cricket Board and the ICC over Bangladesh's reluctance to tour India for its scheduled World Cup fixtures.