As India prepares to host the ICC T20 World Cup 2026, controversy has continued to swirl around teams’ participation. Earlier, Bangladesh refused to send its squad citing security concerns. Now, a social media post by US fast bowler Ali Khan, who is of Pakistani origin, has sparked a fresh debate.
The Viral Claim
Ali Khan posted on his Instagram story on Tuesday, claiming that India had denied visas to US players of Pakistani origin for the T20 World Cup. The screenshot of this story quickly went viral on social media, causing confusion and speculation.
What Actually Happened
To understand the situation, it’s important to note the standard visa process for international players participating in the World Cup. According to a media report citing an official involved in the visa process, no player’s application has been rejected. The matter is currently under standard administrative review, which is a routine procedure for certain cases.
US Team Includes Four Pakistani-Origin Players
The US squad for the T20 World Cup includes four players of Pakistani origin: Ali Khan, Shahyaan Jahangir, Mohammad Mohsin, and Ehsan Adil. All four attended their visa appointments at the Indian High Commission in Colombo on 13 January. Their applications are currently being processed.
The US team is currently in Sri Lanka for preparations ahead of the T20 World Cup 2026, and these players submitted their visa applications from there.
Additional Information Requested
According to ICC sources cited by Cricbuzz, all four players had completed their paperwork as per ICC guidelines before the visa appointment. During their appointment at the Indian High Commission, they were informed that their visas could not be processed immediately. The US team management later received a call from the High Commission requesting additional information, which has now been provided. The Ministry of External Affairs’ final clearance is awaited, after which the High Commission will contact the players for further processing.
Routine Procedure, Not Denial
Officials clarified that this should not be interpreted as a denial of visas. Instead, the applications are under routine review, which is standard for players of Pakistani origin, regardless of their current nationality or the team they represent. A similar procedure has been applied in the past to international stars such as England’s Moeen Ali, Shoaib Bashir, and Australia’s Usman Khawaja when traveling to India.
Ali Khan’s Instagram Post
Ali Khan’s Instagram story read: “India denied the visa, but KFC won my heart,” which triggered the controversy. Khan, a US fast bowler of Pakistani origin, has played 15 ODIs and 18 T20 Internationals for the US, including the historic 2024 T20 World Cup where the US defeated Pakistan. While the US has not yet announced its final squad for the 2026 World Cup, Ali Khan is expected to be included.
US in India’s Group
The T20 World Cup 2026 will be held from 7 February to 8 May in India and Sri Lanka. The US team is placed in Group A alongside India, Pakistan, Namibia, and the Netherlands. ICC sources noted that Ali Khan’s visa application is still active. Such cases often require clearance from multiple departments, including final approval from India’s Ministry of External Affairs, which can take time. The same review process applies to Pakistani-origin players representing Canada, Oman, and Italy.
Conclusion
The controversy on social media is based on a routine administrative process, not a denial of visas. The four US players of Pakistani origin are expected to receive clearance in due course, allowing them to participate in the T20 World Cup.
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