Visa Delays Resolved: Pakistan-Born USA Players Clear Hurdles Ahead of T20 World Cup Clash with India

The cloud of uncertainty hanging over the United States cricket team has lifted, as Pakistan-born players including fast bowler Ali Khan have successfully obtained their Indian visas and are set to feature in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026.

Initial reports in mid-January sparked widespread controversy when Ali Khan posted on social media claiming that he, along with teammates Shayan Jahangir, Mohammad Mohsin, and Ehsan Adil, all of Pakistani origin but now US citizens, had been denied visas to enter India for the tournament, co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka.

USA Cricket officials quickly countered the claims, clarifying that the visas were delayed rather than outright rejected, due to standard additional scrutiny applied to individuals born in Pakistan under Indian regulations. The International Cricket Council (ICC) intervened to facilitate the process, ensuring timely resolutions amid similar minor delays reported for Pakistan-origin players from other teams, such as England’s Adil Rashid and Rehan Ahmed.

With the tournament now underway, the USA opened their campaign against defending champions India in Mumbai on February 7, Ali Khan made an immediate impact. In his first T20I over on Indian soil, the pacer dismissed India’s top-ranked T20I batter Abhishek Sharma for a golden duck, caught at cover sweeper off a well-placed delivery.

The episode highlighted ongoing challenges for players with cross-border backgrounds in ICC events hosted in India, but optimism prevailed as the ICC and relevant boards worked to avoid any exclusions. The USA, placed in Group A alongside India, Pakistan, the Netherlands, and Namibia, now fields a full-strength squad for their remaining fixtures.