COLOMBO (Kashmir English): As fans are anxiously waiting for the T20 World Cup 2026 India-Pakistan clash on February 15, the spotlight is not only on the contest itself but also on who were born in Pakistan but are now representing other nations on the global stage.
The USA squad includes three players who were born in Pakistan but are now representing America.
Associate nations also feature in T20 World Cup 2026
In the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, being staged in India and Sri Lanka, not just traditional powerhouses but also associate nations such as the United States, the Netherlands, Oman, the United Arab Emirates, Canada, and Italy also feature.
What comes out more prominently in 2026 edition is the large presence of Pakistani or Pakistani-origin cricketers across multiple teams.
At least eight tournament teams include players who were either born in Pakistan or have strong family roots there.
For some, the development highlights the depth of Pakistan’s cricketing talent pool. For others, it raises uncomfortable questions about the country’s domestic structure and pathways to the national squad.
The USA squad includes fast bowler Ali Khan, who recently dismissed India’s Abhishek Sharma for a golden duck, alongside pacer Mohammad Mohsin and batter Shayan Jahangir.
Similar stories can be found across associate teams. UAE, Canada, Oman, the Netherlands, and Italy have all benefited from Pakistani talent.
Canada recently fielded pacer Kaleem Sana and left-arm spinner Saad bin Zafar, while Italy gave opportunity to fast bowler Ali Hassan.
The UAE squad reportedly includes at least nine players of Pakistani origin, including captain Mohammad Waseem.
Perhaps the most prominent case remains Sikandar Raza, Zimbabwe’s captain. In one recent match, as many as eight such players were on the field at the same time—yet Pakistan were not one of the teams involved.
Raza was playing against an Oman side that featured seven Pakistani or Pakistani-origin players.
Even among full-member nations, the presence of Pakistani players is prominent. England’s leg-spin department is led by Adil Rashid and Rehan Ahmed, both with family roots in Mirpur, Azad Kashmir.
From Sikandar Raza to Imran Tahir, history suggests that migration is not always about rejection, but about opportunity. What is clear at the T20 World Cup 2026 is that Pakistan’s cricketing footprint extends far beyond its own national team.
