Rehan Ahmed and Adil Rashid have not been issued visas for the 2026 Men’s T20 World Cup starting from February 7.
Sky Sports News It is understood that due to the delay, neither Pakistan player will travel to Sri Lanka with the rest of the squad this weekend for the warm-up matches, which will include three ODIs and three T20Is.
As things stand, it is understood that both players will travel to India for England’s first match against Nepal in Mumbai on February 8.
It is understood that the England and Wales Cricket Board is working with the Indian government, BCCI and ICC to resolve and expedite the issue.
Visa delays for Pakistani traditional players traveling to play cricket in India are not an uncommon problem. Shoaib Bashir missed England’s first Test against India two years ago due to delays, while Saqib Mahmood suffered similar problems.
The Indian government is understood to have no objection to issuing visas and the ECB is confident they will be able to travel in time for the start of the tournament.
Harry Brook will captain England’s white-ball team in the T20 World Cup.
England will play three ODIs and three T20s in Sri Lanka from January 22. White-ball captain Harry Brook may have limited spin options.
Liam Dawson is the team’s only specialist spinner and Will Jacks and Jacob Bethell may have to bowl more than expected if the absent duo do not arrive in time for the match.
England White-Ball Tour – Sri Lanka – January and February
- 1st ODI (Thursday 22 January) – R Premadasa Stadium, Colombo (9am)
- Second ODI (Saturday 24 January) – R Premadasa Stadium, Colombo (9am)
- Third ODI (Tuesday 27 January) – R Premadasa Stadium, Colombo (9am)
- First T20 (Friday 30 January) – Palekele Cricket Ground, Palekele (1.30pm)
- Second T20 (Sunday 1 February) – Palekele Cricket Ground, Palekele (1.30pm)
- Third T20 (Tuesday 3 February) – Palekele Cricket Ground, Palekele (1.30pm)
2026 Men’s T20 World Cup – Full Schedule
Always UK and Ireland
group stage
Saturday, February 7th
- Pakistan v Netherlands (Colombo, 5.30am) – Group A
- West Indies vs Bangladesh (Kolkata, 9.30am) – Group C
- India vs USA (Mumbai, 1:30 PM) – Group A
Sunday February 8th
- New Zealand vs Afghanistan (Chennai, 5.30am) – Group D
- England v Nepal (Mumbai, 9.30am) – Group C
- Sri Lanka v Ireland (Colombo, 1.30pm) – Group B
Monday February 9th
- Bangladesh vs Italy (Kolkata, 5.30am) – Group C
- Zimbabwe v Oman (Colombo, 9.30am) – Group B
- South Africa v Canada (Ahmedabad, 1.30pm) – Group D
Tuesday February 10th
- Netherlands v Namibia (Delhi, 5.30am) – Group A
- New Zealand vs UAE (Chennai, 9.30am) – Group D
- Pakistan vs USA (Colombo, 1:30 PM) – Group A
Wednesday February 11th
- South Africa v Afghanistan (Ahmedabad, 5.30am) – Group D
- Australia v Ireland (Colombo, 9.30am) – Group B
- England v West Indies (Mumbai, 1.30pm) – Group C
Thursday February 12th
- Sri Lanka vs Oman (Kandy, 5.30am) – Group B
- Nepal vs Italy (Mumbai, 9.30am) – Group C
- India vs Namibia (Delhi, 1.30pm) – Group A
Friday February 13th
- Australia v Zimbabwe (Colombo, 5.30am) – Group B
- Canada vs UAE (Delhi, 9:30 a.m.) – Group D
- USA vs. Netherlands (Chennai, 1:30 p.m.) – Group A
Saturday, February 14th
- Ireland v Oman (Colombo, 5.30am) – Group B
- England v Bangladesh (Kolkata, 9.30am) – Group C
- New Zealand v South Africa (Ahmedabad, 1.30pm) – Group D
Sunday February 15th
- West Indies vs Nepal (Mumbai, 5.30am) – Group C
- USA vs. Namibia (Chennai, 9:30 a.m.) – Group A
- India vs Pakistan (Colombo, 1.30pm) – Group A
Monday February 16th
- Afghanistan v UAE (Delhi, 5.30am) – Group D
- England v Italy (Kolkata, 9.30am) – Group C
- Australia v Sri Lanka (Kandy, 1.30pm) – Group B
Tuesday February 17th
- New Zealand vs. Canada (Chennai, 5:30 a.m.) – Group D
- Ireland v Zimbabwe (Kandy, 9.30am) – Group B
- Bangladesh vs Nepal (Mumbai, 1.30pm) – Group C
Wednesday February 18th
- South Africa v UAE (Delhi, 5.30am) – Group D
- Pakistan v Namibia (Colombo, 9.30am) – Group A
- India vs Netherlands (Ahmedabad, 1.30pm) – Group A
Thursday February 19th
- West Indies vs Italy (Kolkata, 5.30am) – Group C
- Sri Lanka v Zimbabwe (Colombo, 9.30am) – Group B
- Afghanistan v Canada (Chennai, 1:30 p.m.) – Group D
Friday February 20th
- Australia v Oman (Kandy, 1.30pm) – Group B
super 8s
Saturday, February 21st
- Y2 vs Y3 (Colombo, 1:30 PM)
Sunday, February 22nd
- Y1 vs. Y4 (Kandy, 9:30 a.m.)
- X1 vs X4 (Ahmedabad, 1:30 PM)
Monday February 23rd
- X2 vs X3 (Mumbai, 1.30pm)
Tuesday February 24th
Wednesday February 25th
- Y2 vs Y4 (Colombo, 1:30 PM)
Thursday, February 26
- X3 vs X4 (Ahmedabad, 9.30am)
- X1 vs X2 (Chennai, 1.30pm)
Friday February 27th
- Y1 vs Y2 (Colombo, 1:30 PM)
Saturday, February 28th
Sunday March 1st
- X2 vs X4 (Delhi, 9:30 AM)
- X1 vs X3 (Kolkata, 1:30 PM)
knockout round
Wednesday March 4th
- Semi-final 1 (Kolkata or Colombo, 1.30pm)
Thursday March 5th
- Semi-final 2 (Mumbai, 1:30 p.m.)
Sunday March 8th
- Final (Ahmedabad or Colombo, 1.30pm)
