Visa-related concerns have intensified for the United States cricket team ahead of the upcoming ICC Men’s T20 World Cup in India, with three more Pakistan-born players still awaiting travel clearance. The development adds to growing uncertainty within the squad just weeks before the marquee tournament begins.
According to a report by Cricbuzz, USA cricketers Shayan Jahangir, Mohammad Mohsin, and Ehsan Adil are yet to receive visa approval to travel to India. Their cases follow a similar delay faced by fast bowler Ali Khan, who encountered issues after attending a scheduled visa appointment at the Indian High Commission in Colombo earlier this week.
The full USA squad is currently stationed in Sri Lanka, where it is conducting its final phase of World Cup preparations. While the remaining players completed their visa formalities on Tuesday, the applications of four Pakistan-origin players are still under review. Officials have clarified that there have been no formal visa rejections so far.
Sources cited in the report stated that the players submitted all required documentation in advance, as per ICC guidelines. However, during their appointments, they were informed that visa processing could not be completed immediately. Later, USA team management was contacted by the Indian High Commission, which indicated that some required information had been received, while additional inputs were still awaited from India’s Ministry of External Affairs.
Once the inter-departmental review process is completed, the players will be contacted for further steps, officials said.
The report emphasized that such extended scrutiny is part of standard operating procedures for special-category cases and is handled in accordance with Indian government protocols. Despite this, Ali Khan’s social media post referencing a “visa denial” earlier this week triggered speculation and concern among fans.
Historically, Pakistan-origin players have often faced additional administrative layers during Indian visa processing, regardless of the country they represent. Several international cricketers, including Moeen Ali, Shoaib Bashir, and Usman Khawaja, have previously undergone similar clearance procedures. These cases typically require approvals from multiple government departments, often extending timelines beyond initial expectations.
The visa issue comes at a sensitive time for the tournament, which has already been surrounded by uncertainty due to tensions between the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) and the ICC over Bangladesh’s hesitancy to tour India for scheduled fixtures.
The USA team has been drawn into a high-profile group alongside India and Pakistan and is set to begin its T20 World Cup campaign on February 7 in Mumbai, where it will face the defending champions.
