USA fast bowler Ali Khan has been denied an Indian visa ahead of the 2026 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, casting uncertainty over his participation in the tournament, multiple reports said Tuesday.
Khan, a key pacer for the United States national cricket team, revealed the visa refusal on social media, posting an image with the caption: “India visa denied but KFC for the win.”
The development comes with less than a month to go before the Men’s T20 World Cup, which is scheduled to be co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka from February 7 to May 8. The USA are set to begin their campaign against hosts India on February 7 in Mumbai.
According to cricket media reports, three other USA cricketers of Pakistani origin — Shayan Jahangir, Ehsan Adil and Mohammad Mohsin — are also believed to have had their Indian visa applications denied, although official confirmation from USA Cricket or the ICC is still awaited.
Born in Attock City in Pakistan’s Punjab province, the 35-year-old Khan has been one of the USA’s most experienced bowlers in international competition, having represented the team in both ODI and T20 formats. His potential absence from the World Cup squad would be a significant setback for the Americans’ preparations.
USA Cricket and the International Cricket Council have not yet issued statements on the visa situation, and it remains unclear whether the affected players will be able to secure clearance before the tournament begins. (Newswire)
