Why are England's T20 World Cup players facing visa issues?

Two England players of Pakistani heritage have not yet received their visas for the 2026 T20 World Cup in India.

Will Rehan Ahmed and Adil Rashid miss the T20 World Cup?

The ECB is working with Indian authorities to resolve the visa delays, and they are expected to arrive in time for the tournament's start.

Is this a common problem for players traveling to India?

Visa delays for players of Pakistani heritage traveling to India for cricket have occurred in the past.

Home / Sports / England Cricket Stars Face Visa Hurdle Ahead of T20 World Cup

England Cricket Stars Face Visa Hurdle Ahead of T20 World Cup

15 Jan

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Summary

Two England players of Pakistani heritage haven't received visas.
Visa delays mean players will miss warm-up games in Sri Lanka.
ECB is actively working with Indian authorities to expedite the process.

England Cricket Stars Face Visa Hurdle Ahead of T20 World Cup

Visa delays have impacted two key England players, Rehan Ahmed and Adil Rashid, ahead of the 2026 men's T20 World Cup. Both players, who have Pakistani heritage, have not yet been issued their visas, casting uncertainty over their immediate travel plans. This current situation means they will miss the squad's departure for Sri Lanka this weekend, where warm-up matches are scheduled.

While the exact reasons for the delay are not specified, it is understood that there are no formal objections from the Indian government. The England and Wales Cricket Board is in communication with the Indian government, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), and the International Cricket Council (ICC) to expedite the visa process. Historically, players of Pakistani heritage have sometimes faced delays when traveling to India for cricket events.