For all 42 Pakistani players and officials traveling to India for the T20 World Cup, the International Cricket Council has intervened to expedite the visa application process.
Pakistani-born cricket players in the England team include pacer Saqib Mahmood, spinner Adil Rashid, and spinner Rehan Ahmed.
Ali Khan and Shayan Jahangir will represent the United States, and Zulfiqar Saqib will represent the Netherlands. Rashid, Rehan, and Saqib, three cricketers from England, have already had their visas approved, according to a PTI report.
The visas for the Netherlands squad members have also been issued. Shah Saleem Zafar, a Canada staff member, has also received clearance. For players and officials of Pakistani nationality or background who play for teams from the United Arab Emirates, the United States of America, Italy, Bangladesh, and Canada, visa arrangements are presently under progress.
Appointments for these teams’ visas have already been set for early next week, suggesting that the procedure is nearing its conclusion. Participants’ visas must be issued by January 31. Given the varied proportion of players of Pakistani heritage in associate and full-member countries, these clearances are regarded as a crucial first step.
The ICC exercise highlights the governing body’s effort to avoid any last-minute issues prior to the international tournament and includes cricket players, officials, and standby personnel from various nations. The Indian High Commissions in several places across continents have maintained continuous connection with the ICC, which is in charge of the coordinating process.
The aim has been to make sure that the remaining players’ and officials’ visa applications are processed quickly and without any delays. The council has been given guarantees that the outstanding matters will be handled efficiently and within the allotted time frames.
The ICC anticipates that all participating teams will be logistically ready before the event begins on February 7 if visa facilitation proceeds according to schedule. Pakistani nationals applying for visas to India face increased scrutiny and longer processing times than usual.
