TRUTH revealed - Has India denied visas of Pakistan-Origin USA players for T20 World Cup 2026?
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USA pacer’s Ali Khan’s Instagram post sparked controversy ahead of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026.
The ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, scheduled to begin on February 7 and jointly hosted by India and Sri Lanka, has already found itself in the middle of an off-field controversy. Reports emerged that Pakistan-origin USA cricketers have been denied visas ahead of the tournament in India and Sri Lanka. This saw Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) as well as the Indian government facing a lot of criticism.
The issue surfaced after USA fast bowler Ali Khan posted an Instagram story implying that his Indian visa application had been rejected. The post featured a picture of him dining with a teammate and was captioned, “India visa denied but KFC for the win.”
The post quickly went viral, leading to speculation that players of Pakistani origin in the USA squad were being denied entry into India. However, according to reports in Cricbuzz, the visa clearance process is still in progress and no official denials have been communicated by Indian authorities.
Four USA cricketers of Pakistani origin — Ali Khan, Shayan Jahangir, Mohammad Mohsin and Ehsan Adil — are currently awaiting visa confirmation after completing their appointments at the Indian Embassy in Sri Lanka on Tuesday, January 13. The USA team is presently in Sri Lanka for the final phase of their preparations ahead of the global tournament.
ICC Men’s T20 World Cup Visa Process: Why Extra Scrutiny Applies
Sources have indicated that visas are usually not issued at the appointment stage itself. The Indian Embassy has reportedly informed USA team management that while some documentation has been received, additional information is still awaited from India’s Ministry of External Affairs (MEA). Once the remaining details are reviewed, the visa process will move forward accordingly.
It is important to note that visa applications involving players of Pakistani origin are subject to additional administrative scrutiny, regardless of the passport they hold or the country they represent. This has been a standard protocol followed by Indian authorities over the years.
In the past, international cricketers such as Moeen Ali, Shoaib Bashir and Usman Khawaja have undergone similar procedures while travelling to India. These cases require clearances from multiple government departments, with final approval resting solely with the MEA. The process operates independently of the BCCI, ICC or tournament organisers.
Moreover, this procedure is uniformly applied across all participating teams. Squads from countries like the UAE, Canada, Oman and Italy, which also feature players of Pakistani origin, are expected to follow the same clearance process.
As things stand, there is no official confirmation of any visa rejections. The situation remains fluid, and further clarity is expected once the Ministry of External Affairs completes its review.
Have Pakistan-origin USA players been denied visas for the T20 World Cup 2026?
No, the visa applications are still under process and have not been formally rejected.
Which USA players are awaiting visa clearance?
Ali Khan, Shayan Jahangir, Mohammad Mohsin and Ehsan Adil are currently awaiting confirmation.
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Vishwajit Sawant is a sports content writer with two years of experience who believes in writing that feels honest, simple, and easy to read. He enjoys breaking down sporting moments into stories readers can genuinely connect with, without relying on fancy vocabulary. His work spans cricket, football, basketball, tennis, and Formula 1, with a focus on match previews, reviews, and reports. Vishwajit believes good content doesn’t need to be loud — it just needs to leave a subtle impact.