India has not approved visa applications for England’s Pakistan-origin cricketers Adil Rashid and Rehan Ahmed ahead of the upcoming T20 World Cup, which will be jointly hosted by India and Sri Lanka from February 7. The Guardian reported that the two English spinners’ visa requests were not granted by the Indian government, creating complications for England’s preparations. As a result, both players are unlikely to join the team’s six-match warm-up series against Sri Lanka before the tournament.

This is not the first time the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has faced such difficulties. Earlier, England’s Shoaib Bashir and Saqib Mahmood also encountered visa issues related to their Pakistani heritage. The situation reflects the lingering diplomatic and political tensions between India and Pakistan, which have affected players of Pakistani descent from multiple countries, including the United States.

According to The Guardian, the ECB has been assured that there is no objection from the Indian government regarding the applications and is working with British authorities to expedite the process. England is scheduled to begin its World Cup campaign against Nepal in Mumbai on February 8.