India has rejected the visa applications of Pakistani-origin players from the United States cricket team. American fast bowler Ali Khan shared a story on Instagram in which he posted a photo of himself looking upset and wrote in the caption that his Indian visa application had been rejected, raising questions over the US team’s preparations. Ali Khan’s Instagram story made it clear that he has not been granted permission to enter India at this time.
The situation is particularly concerning because most of the United States’ Group A matches are scheduled to be played in India. The US team is set to face host India on February 7 at Mumbai’s Wankhede Stadium, followed by matches against the Netherlands and Namibia in Chennai. If the visa issue is not resolved in time, the team may be forced to make last-minute changes to the squad, which could create serious difficulties.
Although no direct confirmation has been received from any other player regarding visa rejections besides Ali Khan, social media reports suggest that other Pakistani-origin American players — Shayan Jahangir, Ehsan Adil, and Mohammad Mohsin — may also face similar issues. So far, neither USA Cricket nor the ICC has issued an official statement on the matter.
According to sources, several associate teams are concerned about potential visa issues ahead of matches in India, especially for players with Pakistani backgrounds or documentation, as their applications are subjected to additional scrutiny. This situation has turned administrative matters into an unnecessary controversy ahead of the tournament.
