England’s T20 World Cup Plans Hit Snag Due to Visa Delays
England’s preparations for the upcoming T20 World Cup in 2026 have encountered a significant hurdle as spinners Adil Rashid and Rehan Ahmed are facing visa delays. Both players, who have Pakistani roots, are subject to extra checks during their visa application process due to their background, regardless of their national team affiliations.
As a result, Rashid and Ahmed are unlikely to join the team when they travel to Sri Lanka for a series of white-ball matches this weekend. It’s unclear when they will be able to reunite with their teammates.
The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) is in communication with the Indian government and has been assured that there are no objections to the players’ visa applications. However, due to the unclear timeline, the ECB is seeking help from the UK government to expedite the process.
Currently, Rashid is in South Africa playing in the SA20 T20 league, while Ahmed is in Australia participating in the Big Bash League. Officials are optimistic that both players can travel directly from their current locations to Sri Lanka or India.
Despite the delays, the ECB is hopeful that the visas will be processed quickly enough for Rashid and Ahmed to participate in the World Cup, which starts with England facing Nepal in Mumbai on February 8. This comes after a challenging period for England, as they look to recover from a disappointing 1-4 defeat in the Ashes series.
England’s schedule includes three One-Day Internationals and three T20 Internationals in Sri Lanka starting from January 22. However, without Rashid and Ahmed, coach Brook may have limited options for spin bowling, relying mainly on Liam Dawson. Other players like Will Jacks and Jacob Bethell may need to step up their bowling roles if the two spinners cannot make it in time.
On another note, there is uncertainty surrounding England’s group-stage match against Bangladesh. The Bangladeshi team has requested the International Cricket Council to move their matches to a neutral venue due to security concerns linked to rising tensions with India.
Pakistan’s matches have already been shifted to Sri Lanka, though the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) reportedly opposes any further schedule changes.
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