Ali Khan among four Pakistani-born USA cricketers await Indian visa clearance for T20 World Cup: Report

The lead-up to the ICC T20 World Cup 2026 has hit another logistical roadblock as four US cricketers of Pakistani origin – Ali Khan, Shayan Jahangir, Mohammad Mohsin, and Ehsan Adil – await visa clearance to travel to India.

While an earlier social media post from Ali Khan suggested a visa denial, a Cricbuzz report has clarified that the applications are still under review and have not been formally rejected.

According to an Instagram story by USA's Ali Khan, the fast bowler's application for an Indian visa to travel with USA to the T20 World Cup next month has been denied. Shayan Jahangir, Ehsan Adil & Mohammad Mohsin in the same boat. Would be a major blow to USA's Super 8 chances. pic.twitter.com/3FNAJGAKMi

— Peter Della Penna (@PeterDellaPenna) January 13, 2026

“They had the appointment this morning at the Indian Embassy in Sri Lanka. They completed the paperwork as per what ICC had asked them to prior to the appointments. At the appointment, the players were informed that the visas could not be processed at this stage. Later in the evening, USA management received a call from the Indian Embassy indicating that some of the required information had been received, while additional inputs were still awaited from the Foreign Ministry. Once that process is complete, they will be contacted to proceed further. That is the current status” the report quoted a source as saying.

Ali Khan as represented the United States in 15 ODIs and 18 T20Is, collecting 33 and 16 wickets respectively. He was also part of the American side that co-hosted the T20 World Cup in 2024 and advanced to the Super 8s after defeating former champions Pakistan during the group stage.

Khan had also become the first ever American cricketer in the Indian Premier League after being signed by Kolkata Knight Riders as a replacement for England pacer Harry Gurney in 2020.

Three other USA cricketers or Pakistani-origin in the same boat as Khan

USA, meanwhile, are once again included in the same group as India and Pakistan in the ICC’s showpiece T20 event, and begin their campaign against the Men in Blue – who are co-hosting the tournament along with Sri Lanka – at Mumbai’s Wankhede Stadium on 7 February, the opening day.

The Americans then travel to Sri Lanka, where they face Pakistan at the Sinhalese Sports Club in Colombo on 10 February, before returning to India for their remaining group matches, facing Netherlands (13 February) and Namibia (15 February) at Chennai’s MA Chidambaram Stadium.

This is not the first instance of cricketers of Pakistani origin struggling to get an Indian visa. England's Shoaib Bashir had faced similar trouble during the 2024 tour of India, and was forced to miss the series opener in Hyderabad as a result.

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