The United States cricket team faces a major setback ahead of the T20 World Cup after four Pakistani-origin players were denied Indian visas.
The affected players include star fast bowler Ali Khan, Shayan Jahangir, Mohammad Mohsin, and Eshan Adil. Ali Khan is a key member of the USA bowling attack, and his absence could impact the team’s performance significantly.
The T20 World Cup will be jointly hosted by India and Sri Lanka. Pakistan will play all of its matches in Sri Lanka due to the hybrid hosting model. The USA is in Group A with India, Pakistan, the Netherlands, and Namibia.
The team is scheduled to face India on February 7 at Mumbai’s Wankhede Stadium, Pakistan on February 10 in Colombo, the Netherlands on February 13, and Namibia on February 15 in Chennai.
Several associate nations, including Italy, Oman, UAE, and Canada, have players of Pakistani descent or dual nationality. These cricket boards have formally approached the International Cricket Council (ICC) regarding the visa issue. So far, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has given no assurance.
The UAE cricket board raised concerns about visa issues for players like Mohammad Waseem, Jawad Ullah, Mohammad Rohid, Khuzaima Tanveer, Haider Ali, Asif Khan, and Junaid Siddiqui. Oman also has multiple Pakistan-origin players, including Fayyaz Butt, Hammad Mirza, Shah Faisal, Mohammad Nadeem, and Sufyan Mahmood, who may face difficulties.
The visa situation has sparked fears about the participation of associate nations and the smooth conduct of the T20 World Cup. Teams are awaiting clarity from the ICC and Indian authorities ahead of the tournament.
Cricket experts emphasize that resolution of the visa issues is critical to ensure fair competition and uphold the spirit of the T20 World Cup.
In other news read more about:India Announces T20 World Cup Squad, Star Batter Left Out
