The Pakistani-born USA fast bowler Ali Khan has sparked a major controversy after posting an Instagram story claiming his Indian visa was “denied.”
The 35-year-old captioned the story, “India visa denied but KFC for the win.”
There is no official explanation from the government regarding this bizarre move; however, some believe that his Pakistani origin might be the reason behind this decision. Some reports suggest that the situation is still developing.
The Indian High Commission in Colombo claimed that Khan’s application is still under “administrative review.”
The USA is scheduled to face India in Mumbai on February 7, 2026, on the opening day of the tournament. The potential absence of Khan, along with other Pakistani-origin players like Mohammad Mohsin, Shayan Jahangir, and Ehsan Adil, would be a massive blow to the American squad.
The USA is currently holding a training camp in Colombo, Sri Lanka, to finalise its 15-member squad. Many teams, like Oman, UAE, and Italy, are also monitoring the situation, given that they have Pakistani-origin players in their squads.
The ICC has not released a formal statement, but reportedly asked to facilitate paperwork if needed.
India’s relation with Pakistan and then Bangladesh serves as a reminder of how geopolitical tensions can affect international cricket logistics.
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