Visa Denials for Pakistani-Origin Cricketers Threaten USA's T20 World Cup Participation
Visa Issues Loom Over USA's T20 World Cup Squad
Mumbai: A report has emerged stating that four cricketers of Pakistani descent selected for the United States team have been refused visas to enter India, jeopardizing their ability to compete in the upcoming Twenty20 World Cup.
One of the players, Ali Khan, confirmed to Telecom Asia Sport that he and three teammates have been denied entry visas for the T20 World Cup, which is set to take place in India and Sri Lanka.
Khan stated in a video message, "It is indeed true that three players of Pakistani origin have been denied Indian visas, preventing us from participating in the Twenty20 World Cup."
The other players included in the USA's 20-man squad are Shayan Jahangir, Mohammad Mohsin, and Ehsan Adil, as reported.
All four players were born in Pakistan but are now citizens of the United States. According to Indian visa regulations, individuals born in Pakistan must apply for visas using their original passports.
This situation affects not only the USA but also players from eight other countries, including the UAE, Oman, Nepal, Canada, England, Zimbabwe, and the Netherlands, who have Pakistani-origin athletes.
Ehsan Adil, who was born in Sheikhupura, has previously represented Pakistan in three Tests and six ODIs from 2013 to 2015 before moving to the USA four years ago to play for Kingsmen USA. Ali Khan hails from Attock, Shayan from Karachi, and Mohsin from Mingora in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
The report highlights that similar visa issues have plagued Pakistani-origin players in the past, including the Zulfiqar brothers, Sikander and Saqib, who faced visa denials in 2019, and Shiraz Ahmed, whose visa was delayed for the 2023 World Cup. Notably, Australian opener Usman Khawaja and England spinners Rehan Ahmed and Shoaib Basheer have also encountered visa challenges.
Sources from the International Cricket Council have indicated that they are assisting teams in obtaining visas, but this latest complication has added to their workload.