WEB DESK: The United States cricket team has encountered a significant challenge as four players of Pakistani origin were denied visas to India ahead of the ICC T20 World Cup.
The players unable to secure visas include USA’s prominent fast bowler Ali Khan, along with Shayan Jahangir, Mohammad Mohsin, and Eshan Adil.
Ali Khan, regarded as a pivotal figure in the USA bowling lineup, is expected to be a notable absence that could hinder the team’s performance significantly.
This year’s T20 World Cup will be co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka. Under the hybrid hosting arrangement, Pakistan is slated to play all its matches in Sri Lanka.
Several other associate nations, including Italy, Oman, the UAE, and Canada, have also reported issues involving players of Pakistani descent or dual nationality. In response, their respective cricket boards have formally appealed to the International Cricket Council (ICC) for intervention regarding the visa complications. However, reports suggest that no commitments have yet been made by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI).
The USA has been drawn into Group A, competing against India, Pakistan, the Netherlands, and Namibia. They are set to kick off their campaign on February 7 against hosts India at Mumbai’s historic Wankhede Stadium.
Following this opening match, they will face Pakistan on February 10 at Colombo’s Sinhalese Sports Club Ground in Sri Lanka. Subsequent games against the Netherlands and Namibia will be held on February 13 and February 15, respectively, at Chennai’s MA Chidambaram Stadium.
Similarly, the UAE cricket board has reached out to the ICC over visa challenges affecting several Pakistani-born players such as Mohammad Waseem, Jawad Ullah, Mohammad Rohid, Khuzaima Tanveer, Haider Ali, Asif Khan, and Junaid Siddiqui.
Oman also faces a similar issue with several Pakistan-born players on their roster potentially facing visa hurdles. This includes Fayyaz Butt, Hammad Mirza, Shah Faisal, Mohammad Nadeem, and Sufyan Mahmood.
The situation has sparked concerns about the participation of associate nations and the overall smooth conduct of the tournament. Teams are now awaiting clarification from both Indian authorities and the ICC regarding the resolution of these pressing issues.
