Days after reports surfaced of a few Pakistani origin cricketers facing delays in getting their Indian visas for the upcoming ICC T20 World Cup in the country, the International Cricket Council (ICC) has taken measures to facilitate the formalities for all the concerned 42 players and officials.
Among the England squad, cricketers of Pakistani heritage include spinners Adil Rashid, Rehan Ahmed, and pacer Saqib Mahmood. Representing the USA are Ali Khan and Shayan Jahangir, while the Netherlands squad includes Zulfiqar Saqib.
According to news agency PTI, visas have already been cleared for England’s Rashid, Rehan, and Saqib. Members of the Netherlands squad have also received their visas, as has Canada’s staff member Shah Saleem Zafar.
Visa arrangements
are currently underway for Pakistani-origin players and officials from teams representing the United Arab Emirates, the United States of America, Italy, Bangladesh, and Canada. Visa appointments for these teams are scheduled for early next week, indicating that the process is nearing completion. The deadline for visa issuance for participants is January 31.
These clearances are a vital initial step, given the diverse representation of players of Pakistani descent across both associate and full-member nations. The ICC’s efforts cover cricketers, officials, and standby personnel from various teams, highlighting the governing body’s aim to avoid any last-minute issues before the global event.
The ICC, overseeing the coordination process, has maintained regular communication with Indian High Commissions in multiple cities worldwide. Their goal has been to ensure that visa applications for the remaining players and officials are processed efficiently and without delays.
The council has received assurances that the pending cases will be handled smoothly within the stipulated timelines. With visa facilitation progressing as planned, the ICC is confident that all participating teams will be logistically prepared before the tournament begins on February 7.
Visa applications from Pakistani-origin individuals face more scrutiny and longer processing times than usual.
