Four Pakistani-origin cricketers selected for the USA team have been refused visas to travel to India for the upcoming T20 World Cup, jeopardizing their participation. Pacer Ali Khan confirmed that he and three others were unable to secure Indian visas, hindering their inclusion in the tournament. The affected players include Shayan Jahangir, Mohammad Mohsin, and Ehsan Adil, all now US citizens but born in Pakistan.
The visa denial is based on India’s regulations requiring individuals born in Pakistan to apply for visas using their Pakistani passports. This development impacts not only the USA team but also players from seven other nations with Pakistani-origin players. Ehsan Adil, who previously represented Pakistan in international cricket, migrated to the USA four years ago and currently plays for Kingsmen USA.
The issue of visa denials has affected Pakistani-origin players in the past as well. Notably, the Zulfiqar brothers were denied visas in 2019, and Shiraz Ahmed faced visa delays for the 2023 World Cup. Additionally, players like Usman Khawaja from Australia and Rehan Ahmed and Shoaib Basheer from England have encountered similar visa challenges. The International Cricket Council is reportedly assisting teams in obtaining visas, but this recent incident has added to their workload.
