KEY POINTS
- Multiple associate nations report similar visa hurdles for their players.
- Concerned cricket boards urgently escalated the issue to the ICC.
- Crisis adds to existing tournament tensions and creates a major logistical challenge for ICC.
ISLAMABAD: Several USA cricketers of Pakistani origin have been denied Indian visas ahead of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, raising concerns over player participation in the tournament scheduled to be held in India and Sri Lanka from February 7 to March 8.
The issue gained public attention when USA fast bowler Ali Khan took to social media to highlight the predicament.
He posted a picture of himself and fellow batter Shayan Jahangir at a restaurant with the caption, “Indian visa denied but KFC for the win.”
The post quickly went viral, drawing global attention to the logistical and diplomatic challenges clouding the event.
The problem is not isolated. Multiple associate nations, including Italy, Oman, the UAE, Canada, and the USA itself, have players of Pakistani origin or dual nationality who are facing significant hurdles in securing Indian visas.
The cricket boards of these nations have escalated the matter to the International Cricket Council (ICC), seeking urgent intervention and clarity.
However, they have yet to receive any formal response or assurance from the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), the tournament’s primary host.
The USA team, which famously defeated Pakistan in a Super Over during the 2024 edition, is particularly impacted. Four key players in their squad for 2026 are of Pakistani descent:
Ali Khan (35): The Pakistan-born pace spearhead, with 49 wickets in 33 combined ODIs and T20Is for the USA.
Shayan Jahangir (31): The Karachi-born top-order batter, a mainstay with over 1,100 runs for the USA across formats.
Ehsan Adil (31): A former Pakistan international (3 Tests, 6 ODIs) set to make his debut for the USA.
Mohammad Mohsin (26): A Peshawar-born all-rounder with PSL experience.
The USA is placed in the high-profile Group A alongside hosts India, Pakistan, the Netherlands, and Namibia.
They are scheduled to open their campaign against India in a marquee clash on February 7, followed by a match against Pakistan on February 10.
This visa impasse adds another layer of complexity to an already tense build-up for the World Cup, which is also grappling with the standoff between the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) and the ICC over venue security.
The ICC now faces a mounting diplomatic and logistical crisis, with time running out to ensure the full participation of all qualified teams.
USA squad for T20 World Cup 2026
Monank Patel (c), Jessy Singh (vc), Ehsan Adil, Andries Gous, Shayan Jahangir, Shehan Jayasuriya, Aaron Jones, Nosthush Kenjige, Ali Khan, Sanjay Krishnamurthi, Milind Kumar, Mohammad Mohsin, Sai Mukkamalla, Saurabh Netravalkar, Shubham Ranjane, Harmeet Singh, Rushil Ugarkar and Shadley van Schalkwyk.
