Relief has finally arrived in England ahead of the 2026 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup after senior spinner Adil Rashid and leg-spinner Rehan Ahmed were granted Indian visas, easing concerns over their availability for the marquee tournament. The development comes after days of uncertainty, with two England players awaiting clearance even though the rest of the squad have already received them.
According to reports on ESPNcricinfo, the ICC remains confident that visas for all players, support staff and officials – including those of Pakistani origin or nationality – will be processed in time for the tournament. Rashid and Rehan, both originally from Pakistan, were subjected to an additional administrative check, which is standard procedure regardless of nationality or team representation. However, the delay caused alarm in the English camp.
The uncertainty meant that both Rashid and Ahmed were unlikely to travel with the rest of the England squad to Sri Lanka for the upcoming white-ball series, raising doubts about when they would be able to link up with the squad. With the visas now in place, England can breathe easier as they finalize preparations for the global event.
ALI KHAN FACES VISA PROBLEMS
The issue has highlighted a wider problem faced by players of Pakistani origin representing teams like England, USA and others, several of whom have encountered visa-related hurdles when traveling to India for major tournaments. The matter gained further attention earlier this week when American fast bowler Ali Khan claimed that he was denied an Indian visa before the T20 World Cup.
Khan, who was in Colombo with Team USA for a training camp, posted on Instagram that his visa application had been rejected, raising uncertainty over his availability for the tournament opener against India in Mumbai. While details remain unclear, the incident has added to concerns about visa processing.
But for England, the early approval of Rashid and Rehan Ahmed’s visas ensures their World Cup plans remain on track, offering much-needed reassurance as the tournament countdown continues.
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Issued by:
sabyasachi chowdhury
Published on:
January 18, 2026