NEW DELHI: A viral social media post by the USA fast bowler Ali Khan sparked widespread speculation on Tuesday when it was claimed that India had denied visas to US cricketers of Pakistani origin ahead of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup. However, officials familiar with the process have clarified that no visas have been formally rejected and that the matter remains part of a standard administrative review.Go beyond the limits with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!Four American players of Pakistani origin – Ali Khan, Shayan Jahangir, Mohammad Mohsin and Ehsan Adil – are currently awaiting approval of their visas after attending scheduled appointments at the Indian High Commission in Colombo on January 13. The players are in Sri Lanka with the US squad as part of their final phase of preparation for the February tournament.
According to a Cricbuzz report, ICC sources said all four players completed their paperwork exactly as instructed before the appointments. “They had the appointment at the Indian Embassy in Sri Lanka this morning. They completed the paperwork as per ICC guidelines before the appointments. At the appointment, the players were told that the visas could not be processed at this point in time,” the source said. “Later in the evening, US management received a call from the Indian Embassy stating that some of the required information had been received while further input was awaited from the State Department. Once this process is complete, they will be contacted to proceed further.”
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The Cricbuzz report further added that the officials stressed that this did not constitute a visa denial. Instead, applications are reviewed, a process that is routine in special cases involving players of Pakistani origin, regardless of nationality or team affiliation. Similar procedures have applied in the past to international cricketers such as Moeen Ali, Shoaib Bashir and Usman Khawaja when traveling to India.The issue gained traction after Ali Khan posted an Instagram story that read, “India visa denied but KFC for the win,” fueling online speculation. However, sources familiar with the matter reiterated that the applications remain active and that such cases often require approval from multiple departments, including final approval from India’s Ministry of External Affairs.
It is important that the same protocols apply to all participating teams. Squads from the United Arab Emirates, Canada, Oman and Italy – all of which include players of Pakistani origin – are expected to follow identical procedures.Ali Khan, a Pakistan-born pacer who has represented the USA in 15 ODIs and 18 T20Is, was part of the squad that famously beat Pakistan in the 2024 T20 World Cup. While the USA has not yet announced its final roster for the 2026 tournament, it remains in the running.The T20 World Cup will be played from February 7 to May 8 at venues in India and Sri Lanka, with the USA placed in Group A alongside India, Pakistan, Namibia and the Netherlands. For now, authorities insist the visa process is ongoing and urge patience amid growing excitement.
