US Cricketers' India Visas Under Review, Not Denied, Officials Clarify
A viral social media post from USA fast bowler Ali Khan created a wave of speculation on Tuesday. Many people believed 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 now provided clear information. They state that no visas have been formally rejected. The matter remains part of a standard administrative review.
Four Players Await Visa Clearance
Four US players of Pakistan origin currently await visa clearance. These players are Ali Khan, Shayan Jahangir, Mohammad Mohsin, and Ehsan Adil. They attended scheduled appointments at the Indian High Commission in Colombo on January 13. The players are currently in Sri Lanka with the USA squad. They are participating in the final phase of preparation for the February tournament.
According to a Cricbuzz report, sources at the ICC confirmed all four players completed their paperwork exactly as instructed prior to the appointments. A source explained the situation. "They had the appointment this morning at the Indian Embassy in Sri Lanka. They completed the paperwork as per what ICC had asked them to prior to the appointments. At the appointment, the players were informed that the visas could not be processed at this stage," the source said.
The source provided further details. "Later in the evening, USA management received a call from the Indian Embassy. The call indicated that some of the required information had been received. Additional inputs were still awaited from the Foreign Ministry. Once that process is complete, they will be contacted to proceed further."
Standard Procedure for Special-Category Cases
The Cricbuzz report added an important clarification from officials. They stressed that this situation does not constitute a visa denial. Instead, the applications are under review. This process is routine in special-category cases involving players of Pakistani origin. It applies irrespective of nationality or team affiliation.
Similar procedures have applied in the past to international cricketers. Players like Moeen Ali, Shoaib Bashir, and Usman Khawaja followed identical processes when travelling to India. The issue gained significant traction after Ali Khan posted an Instagram story. The story read, "India visa denied but KFC for the win." This post fuelled extensive online speculation.
Sources close to the matter reiterated a key point. The applications remain active. Such cases often require clearances from multiple departments. Final approval from India's Ministry of External Affairs is typically necessary. Importantly, the same protocols apply across all participating teams. Squads from the UAE, Canada, Oman, and Italy will follow identical procedures. All these teams include players of Pakistani origin.
Ali Khan's Background and Tournament Context
Ali Khan is a Pakistan-born pacer who has represented the USA in 15 ODIs and 18 T20Is. He was part of the squad that famously beat Pakistan at the 2024 T20 World Cup. While the USA are yet to announce their final squad for the 2026 tournament, he remains in strong contention.
The T20 World Cup will be held from February 7 to May 8. Matches will occur across venues in India and Sri Lanka. The USA team is placed in Group A. They will compete alongside India, Pakistan, Namibia, and the Netherlands. For now, officials insist the visa process is ongoing. They emphasize it is not denied. Officials urge patience amid the growing buzz and online discussions.
