Visa Issues Threaten England Spin Pair's T20 World Cup Participation

A visa delay is set to keep Rehan Ahmed and Adil Rashid, England's spin duo, from joining their teammates for warm-up matches in Sri Lanka ahead of the 2026 men's T20 World Cup, which begins on February 7. The pair, of Pakistani descent, are expected to travel directly to India for England's opening match against Nepal in Mumbai on February 8. The England and Wales Cricket Board is collaborating with the Indian government, the Board of Control for Cricket in India, and the International Cricket Council to resolve the issue. This is not an unprecedented problem, as players of Pakistani heritage have faced similar visa delays in the past when traveling to India for cricket matches. Despite the current holdup, there is optimism that the visas will be issued in time for the tournament's start, with the Indian government not objecting to the visa applications. England's white-ball captain, Harry Brook, may have limited spin options available during the team's matches in Sri Lanka, which include three ODIs and three T20Is starting January 22. Liam Dawson is the only other specialist spinner in the squad, which may necessitate Will Jacks and Jacob Bethell taking on additional bowling responsibilities if Ahmed and Rashid are unable to participate.