One of the players told Telecom Asia Sport that he, along with three others, has been denied visas to travel to India for the T20 World Cup, which is being jointly hosted by India and Sri Lanka.
According to the report, all three were born in Pakistan but are now US citizens. Under India’s visa rules, all Pakistan-born people have to apply for a visa using their passport from their country of birth.The issue means eight countries will be affected by this problem, besides the USA, players from the UAE, Oman, Nepal, Canada, England, Zimbabwe, and the Netherlands have players of Pakistani origin.Adil was born in Sheikhupura and played three Tests and six ODIs for Pakistan between 2013 and 2015. He migrated to the USA four years ago and plays for Kingsmen USA. Khan was born in Attock in Punjab, Shayan in Karachi, and Mohsin in Mingora in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP).
The report also claimed that the issue has haunted Pakistani-origin players in the past, too, with Zulfiqar brothers — Sikander and Saqib — denied a visa in 2019, while another player, Shiraz Ahmed’s visa delayed for the 2023 World Cup.
Australia’s opener Usman Khawaja (2017) and England spinners — Rehan Ahmed and Shoaib Basheer (2024) — have also faced visa problems in the past.
Sources in the International Cricket Council have said they are helping teams in acquiring visas, but the latest issue has increased their workload.
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