In a major boost before the T20 World Cup 2026, English cricketers Rehan Ahmed and Adil Rashid have been handed Indian visas, putting an end to the concerns surrounding their presence at the international event.
The International Cricket Council (ICC) has reaffirmed its confidence that members from the Pakistani origin group will possess their visas well before the start of the tournament held in India.
This was brought sharply into focus last week, with it emerging that both Ahmed and Rashid, who possess Pakistani origins, were yet to receive visa clearance, despite the majority of the Kent football squad having already been granted visa clearance.
T20 World Cup 2026: Visa Delays Highlight Ongoing Challenges
Delay in issuing visas to Pakistan-born players is not something new. In recent years, many cricketers from England, Australia, and associate teams have had similar troubles while travelling to India.
This issue has arisen again when the fast bowler for the USA, Ali Khan, accused the Indian government of not issuing an Indian visa. Seeing the tension between the Indian and Pakistani governments, visas for Pakistani citizens or those of Pakistani descent have become increasingly tricky.
Even the Pakistani men’s national team faced a brief postponement before departing for India to play in the 2023 ODI World Cup, highlighting the contentious nature of the issue.
T20 World Cup 2026: 42 Applications Under ICC Oversight
According to the information available, there are a total of 42 visa applications for players and officials of Pakistani origin in various teams participating in the T20 World Cup in the year 2026:
- Canada
- Netherlands
- UAE
- England
- Italy
- Bangladesh (where former Pakistan spinner Mushtaq Ahmed is part of the coaching staff)
- USA
Visas have been issued for players from Canada and the Netherlands, and visa appointment slots are to be held for UAE, USA, Italy, Bangladesh, and Canada next week.
ICC Takes Proactive Role
Learning from the past events, the ICC has taken an active interest this time around. The governing body is working actively with the Indian High Commissions and Consulates across the world to make sure that no team encounters any problems. The ICC, on its part, is very confident that all the rest of the visas will be finalized by January 31, which is in line with the support period.
Tournament Timeline Remains Unaffected
With the first matches of the T20 World Cup 2026 scheduled to begin on February 7, this is an auspicious sign: the timely issuance of visas to players like Rehan Ahmed and Adil Rashid, reassuring teams and fans alike.
ALSO READ: IND vs NZ 3rd ODI: Mitchell, Phillips Hundreds Power New Zealand To Historic Series Win In India
