USA players of Pakistani origin await visa approval ahead of T20 World Cup

 

Four USA cricketers of Pakistani origin—Ali Khan, Shayan Jahangir, Mohammad Mohsin, and Ehsan Adil—are still waiting for visa clearance to travel to India for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup. The group recently completed their scheduled visa appointments at the Indian High Commission in Colombo.
The four players are currently in Sri Lanka with the USA national squad as part of their final preparation phase for the February tournament. They attended their appointments on Tuesday (January 13), but visas were not issued immediately. However, officials clarified that this does not indicate a rejection. Instead, their applications remain under assessment according to standard procedures.
ICC sources confirmed that all necessary documents were submitted correctly ahead of the scheduled interviews.
An official explained:
“The players completed their appointments this morning at the Indian Embassy in Sri Lanka and submitted all required paperwork. During the appointment, they were informed that visas couldn’t be processed at that moment. Later, the USA team management received a call stating some information had been received, but additional details were still awaited from the Foreign Ministry. Once the process is complete, the players will be contacted. That is the situation as of now.”
Officials familiar with the matter emphasized that this verification process is routine for cases in special categories and follows established Indian government protocols. Public attention intensified after Ali Khan shared an Instagram story referencing a “visa denial,” leading to speculation on social media.
Historically, visa reviews for individuals of Pakistani origin involve multiple stages of administrative clearance—irrespective of their nationality or the team they represent. Similar situations have occurred previously with players such as Moeen Ali, Shoaib Bashir, and Usman Khawaja while traveling to India. Sources reiterated that the current applications remain active and under review, and that extended processing timelines are not unusual.
These cases typically require approvals from several departments, with final clearance issued by India’s Ministry of External Affairs. This process functions independently of sporting organizations or tournament hosts.
Importantly, the same visa procedures apply uniformly to all participating teams. Squads from countries like the UAE, Canada, Oman, and Italy—many of which include players of Pakistani origin—are expected to undergo identical clearance protocols.
The visa delay adds another layer of uncertainty to the tournament. The lead-up to the T20 World Cup has already encountered administrative complications, particularly the ongoing standoff between the Bangladesh Cricket Board and the ICC over Bangladesh’s refusal to play their scheduled matches in India.