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India's discrimination against Pakistanis and Pakistani origin players in cricket

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Usman Khawaja facing visa issues ahead of India Test series

Visa issues have left batter Usman Khawaja at risk of being stranded in Sydney while his teammates assemble in India for this month's Test tour.

Australia's Test squad took staggered flights to the subcontinent on Tuesday and Wednesday ahead of the first Test scheduled to begin in Nagpur on February 9.

AAP understands Khawaja had not been due to fly out until Thursday.

Every member of the 18-man squad has been cleared to enter India bar Pakistan-born Khawaja, who also faced visa challenges when he tried to enter the country in 2011.

On that occasion, Khawaja took to social media to vent his frustration he had not been permitted to enter the country as an Australian because he was not born in Australia.

This time, he took a more relaxed approach on social media, writing: "Me waiting for my Indian Visa like …" alongside a picture of a man on a swing, with the hashtags "stranded", "dontleaveme", "standard" and "anytimenow".

A Cricket Australia official said the governing body was aware of the situation and was hopeful Khawaja would be approved for entry to India imminently.

This month's tour is set to be Khawaja's first time playing Test cricket in India, but he has been cleared to play in the country in other formats on numerous occasions.

He toured with the Test team in 2013, represented Rising Pune Supergiant in the IPL in 2016, played for Australia A on an Indian tour in 2018, and toured again with the national ODI team in 2019.

Khawaja's Big Bash League side the Brisbane Heat are scheduled to play the Sydney Sixers in "The Challenger" final at the SCG on Thursday night.

But a Heat official said it was unlikely Khawaja would participate in the match if he was still in Sydney, with securing a visa to India remaining the player's top priority.

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-02...-in-flying-to-india-over-visa-issue/101917364
 
This is pretty embarrassing.

Has Usman not played in IPL before?
 
This is pretty embarrassing.

Has Usman not played in IPL before?

I dont know about whether he has played in IPL but he was in the Australia squad that toured India for the 2017 Test Series
 
This is pretty embarrassing.

Has Usman not played in IPL before?

For anyone with parents or grandparents born in Pakistan there are strict and stringent background checks. Even if your passport in non Pakistani. He will get the visa but will run through checks again.. just in case something changed from his last visit.

This is explicitly declared on the visa form and local police will keep track of your whereabouts so random checks at where you declared to stay.

This is due to David Headley
 
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Nothing embarrassing about it. Post David Headley you can't be too careful. He will get his visa eventually.
 
I am surprised that this thing is looked down upon and ignored by alot of people. BCCI discriminates against Pakistani players. The fact that you can get an IPL contract if you apply not as a Pakistani, is textbook discrimination.

Pakistanis dont raise this issue. The Cricketing world that stood up for apartheid couldn't care less about this, and Indian posters who will whine about racism in Australia justify this discrimination.

And now this discrimination is spreading towards Pakistani origin players as well. Usman Khawaja's visa getting delayed only because from where he originates?

Its time this topic gets discussed. Its not about being desperate to play IPL, but its about keeping one aside due to belonging from a particular nation.
 
Khawaja's visa delay is not BCCI's doing. We can debate rest of the points.
 
What has Usman Khwaja's visa got to do with the BCCI?
 
Remember that a few years ago Saqib Mahmood the fast bowler had a visa problem as well when he had to go to India with the England Lions squad, but isn't Imran Tahir's IPL career a counter-example ?
 
If you are Pakistani or Pakistani origin, visa process is longer and more stringent. Khawaja will get his visa but it will take longer than it takes for his other Aussie team mates.
 
I am surprised that this thing is looked down upon and ignored by alot of people. BCCI discriminates against Pakistani players. The fact that you can get an IPL contract if you apply not as a Pakistani, is textbook discrimination.

Pakistanis dont raise this issue. The Cricketing world that stood up for apartheid couldn't care less about this, and Indian posters who will whine about racism in Australia justify this discrimination.

And now this discrimination is spreading towards Pakistani origin players as well. Usman Khawaja's visa getting delayed only because from where he originates?

Its time this topic gets discussed. Its not about being desperate to play IPL, but its about keeping one aside due to belonging from a particular nation.

Getting Visa or work permit is a privilege not a right.
 
Visa has been issued but delay in handing out the physical copy

Cricbuzz understands that while a visa has been issued to Khawaja, the delay was caused because a physical copy of the same was unavailable by the time a second set of squad members left Australia on Tuesday. The 36-year-old Islamabad-born Khawaja will now fly out to Bengaluru on Thursday.

-cricbuzz
 
as expected, a few people acting like its their fundamental right or something. Yes there is a different procedure for pak born/origin, reasons known to us all. deal with it and move on. acting like nothing happened in the past.

he will reach 2 days late, test match is nowhere near. not much damage in cricketing perspective. political perspective is a known situation between the two countries and won't change overnight. MOVE ON.
 
as expected, a few people acting like its their fundamental right or something. Yes there is a different procedure for pak born/origin, reasons known to us all. deal with it and move on. acting like nothing happened in the past.

he will reach 2 days late, test match is nowhere near. not much damage in cricketing perspective. political perspective is a known situation between the two countries and won't change overnight. MOVE ON.

when you get discriminated in a foreign country, hopefully someone says to you deal with it
 
this is delay tactics on purpose. what a joke of a country


No body begged Pakistanis to come to India. This is the procedure. Don't like it dont apply.

If Cricket Australia has any problems, they can tell the BCCI that they are withdrawing from the tour.
 
when you get discriminated in a foreign country, hopefully someone says to you deal with it

Why will he go to a country which has a big board on the door saying people of his nationality are not welcome?
 
when you get discriminated in a foreign country, hopefully someone says to you deal with it

we have already had this discussion. if there is a country which has problems with india origin/born i will avoid visiting that country. if i HAD to, i will comply by all their rules and expect stringent procedures too.

"when you get discriminated in a foreign country"
trying to act like we are talking here about some random country lol. this is india-pakistan. we have issues. good morning.
 
Not sure what is the issue.
Khawaja has been in India for multiple IPL seasons, BGT 2013 and 2017, 2019 ODI series. Why would they deny him visa now ?
 
If you are Pakistani or Pakistani origin, visa process is longer and more stringent. Khawaja will get his visa but it will take longer than it takes for his other Aussie team mates.

Please note that the discussion is not limited to just Usman but connected with the whole idea that players are being discriminated due to their origin or place of birth.
 
such delays and even rejections are to be expected as India considers Pakistan as a hostile nation and Pakistanis, regardless of their passport, an enemy.

The best response to such antics is to improve the economic prosperity and appeal of Pakistan so that Pakistanis and Pakistani-origins don’t have any need to travel to India.
 
US gives on-arrival Visas to only certain countries. Same with every other nation. So why is that not a discrimination? This is just some extra process for people from Pakistan.
 
US gives on-arrival Visas to only certain countries. Same with every other nation. So why is that not a discrimination? This is just some extra process for people from Pakistan.

thats because US runs extensive background checks on people of some country.

You are telling me that Usman Khawaja needs to be background checked before letting into India?
 
thats because US runs extensive background checks on people of some country.

You are telling me that Usman Khawaja needs to be background checked before letting into India?
Yes. Every Pakistani origin person needs to be doubly verified for every entry to India.
 
thats because US runs extensive background checks on people of some country.

You are telling me that Usman Khawaja needs to be background checked before letting into India?

US checks every time i believe.
 
US gives on-arrival Visas to only certain countries. Same with every other nation. So why is that not a discrimination? This is just some extra process for people from Pakistan.

The US have different checks/processes based on your nationality, not (officially at least) your ethnicity.
 
The US have different checks/processes based on your nationality, not (officially at least) your ethnicity.

This is for Pakistan nationals or people of Pakistani origin. That is not ethnicity since Indians are same ethinicity as well.
 
Is it necessary for verification to take several days longer than his teammates, for an international cricketer, just because of his nationality/background?
 
Yes. Every Pakistani origin person needs to be doubly verified for every entry to India.

So you are saying that even though usman khawaja is a celebrity and is well known he us a cricketer, he is still some how could be linked to terrorism or terrorism activities against india?

An indian once raped a 14 year old minor in australua, does that mean australians have a right to view every indian in australia as a potential rapist?
 
For anyone with parents or grandparents born in Pakistan there are strict and stringent background checks. Even if your passport in non Pakistani. He will get the visa but will run through checks again.. just in case something changed from his last visit.

This is explicitly declared on the visa form and local police will keep track of your whereabouts so random checks at where you declared to stay.

This is due to David Headley

My grandfather is originally from Jullundhar, East Punjab and dad born in Iran prior to partition, and with non-Pakistan passport I’m assuming I would still get the same stringent background checks if I wanted to enter India.

So it can actually go beyond place of birth. Its probably more discrimination against Muslims or Muslim sounding names than anything else. As I understand Pakistani Hindus wanting to enter India may not receive as much hassle.
 
Just because Khwaja is a famous cricketer who is well known in India doesn’t mean that automatically he doesn’t have to follow the same rules that probably apply to any Pakistani origin person visiting India especially in these sensitive times.

Now yes if this problem was not addressed before or whatever incompetency is causing the delay should be criticized.

Hope it’s sorted out because looking forward to a very competitive test series with a full strength Aussies.
 
My grandfather is originally from Jullundhar, East Punjab and dad born in Iran prior to partition, and with non-Pakistan passport I’m assuming I would still get the same stringent background checks if I wanted to enter India.

So it can actually go beyond place of birth. It’s probably more discrimination against Muslims or Muslim sounding names than anything else. As I understand Pakistani Hindus wanting to enter India may not receive as much hassle.

If you have a dual passport it will be problem. No one is going to check your DNA because they suspect your are Pakistani if you have a foreign passport, never travelled to Pakistan in recent times etc. obviously if there is frequent stamping to Pakistan, it will obviously be a red flag. I would assume no different in Pakistan if they see Indian stamping on it.
 
Please note that the discussion is not limited to just Usman but connected with the whole idea that players are being discriminated due to their origin or place of birth.

Every country has different visa rules for different countries. Some get visa on arrival, some get E Visa some get visa only after extensive background checks etc.
 
So you are saying that even though usman khawaja is a celebrity and is well known he us a cricketer, he is still some how could be linked to terrorism or terrorism activities against india?

An indian once raped a 14 year old minor in australua, does that mean australians have a right to view every indian in australia as a potential rapist?

The rules apply to all. His visa has been delayed by couple of days only. Others will have to wait weeks or even months.

That's for Aussies to decide. And they decided in 2022 that the visa regime with India has to be relaxed further.
 
The US have different checks/processes based on your nationality, not (officially at least) your ethnicity.

Who told you?

Shah Rukh Khan was detained multiple times at US airports and questioned by the US immigration department.

In 2009, US immigration authorities detained SRK at Newark Liberty International Airport in New Jersey for two hours.
In August 2016, Shah Rukh was detained at Los Angeles International Airport.
In 2012, Shah Rukh was detained at Westchester County airport in New York
 
The rules apply to all. His visa has been delayed by couple of days only. Others will have to wait weeks or even months.

That's for Aussies to decide. And they decided in 2022 that the visa regime with India has to be relaxed further.

that did not answered what i have asked
 
The US have different checks/processes based on your nationality, not (officially at least) your ethnicity.

Nope.. their entire greencard process for employed professionals is based on country of birth not citizenship unless it’s “their” friendly countries.

Eb1,2,3
 
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It’s discrimination in my opinion in IPL, visa discrimination is across the world though.
 
Nope.. their entire greencard process for employed professionals is based on country of birth not citizenship unless it’s “their” friendly countries.

Eb1,2,3

Which is still a different level to what we're talking about here given people who aren't born in Pakistan, have never held Pakistani citizenship and had neither of their parents born in Pakistan can still face significant delays.
 
Which is still a different level to what we're talking about here given people who aren't born in Pakistan, have never held Pakistani citizenship and had neither of their parents born in Pakistan can still face significant delays.

In this case Usman is born in Pakistan but yeah it’s discrimination.

Having said that maybe this is a high profile case but there are people that visit India for holy reasons from Pakistan.

https://www.freepressjournal.in/ind...s-ajmer-to-participate-in-urs-of-ajmer-sharif

Above too India delayed but gave it later I suppose.
 
Non-runner if you ask me

India entitled to complete checks after concerns with his brother Arslan criminal record

Visa issue is down to India discretion
 
It’s discrimination in my opinion in IPL, visa discrimination is across the world though.

THANK YOU. Atleast you admit it. You are the only Indian that admits this
 
It’s discrimination in my opinion in IPL, visa discrimination is across the world though.

THANK YOU. Atleast you admit it. You are the only Indian that admits this

Israeli athletes were not allowed in many Arab/Muslim countries. You need to stop being delusional to think politics is divorced from sport. It isn't.

Also, do most Pakistanis complain about lack of employment in India - a hostile state or are you an outlier?

This is only meant for [MENTION=135038]Major[/MENTION]
 
OP is trying to prove that concept of a 'sovereign nation state' is discrimination. India is entitled to set any and every restriction on its VISA.

Extra scrutiny of people connected to enemy state is more than justified.
 
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Visa is a privilege and not a birthright

THANK YOU. Atleast you admit it. You are the only Indian that admits this

Some visas need to go through extra investigation. What's new. Esp. after David Headley case.
It is the same world over, not sure why you think playing in India is a birthright.
Also a visa to another country is privilege not a birth right. Smell the coffee, Good morning.
 
How is it discrimination in the IPL? Work visas are subject to government approval.

Because every country in the world is allowed except one.
Weirdly Ex Pakistani cricketers with a different citizenship are also allowed lol
 
Of course... Celebrities have been agents in the past. Shah Rukh Khan often has issues when traveling to USA.
 
I agree in principle.

Our country's tax law is little weird. So many exemptions. We would have to overhaul it completely. But even bringing simple GST structure was not palatable to some.

I have no issue with BCCI tax breaks I understand the reason, the reasoning of no Pakistani cricket players (commentators, coaches ex Pak cricketers seem to allowed)in IPL is only what i don’t understand..franchises can be allowed to make their own decisions.
 
THANK YOU. Atleast you admit it. You are the only Indian that admits this

He used the wrong word “discrimination”. What he probably meant is every country have their own visa rules and regulations. My family member was trying to get visiting visa to Canada and got rejected because she accidentally put a 0 less in her income. She had to go through all the processes and pay all the fees again. No exceptions or considerations.

If Indian visa rules have additional measures to give visa to someone who has a dual passport and has frequent personal (non work-related) visits to Pakistan then they will ensure every step is cleared. Why should they change rules of national security and immigrants services for a cricket series?

Obviously I am assuming Khwaja makes frequent visits to Pakistan to visit family or has a dual passport here. Don’t think visa is issued on someone’s suspected DNA or country of origin.
 
I am not sure what your objection is. Even if an American company hires a foreigner, the person has to get a work visa from the American government.
 
He used the wrong word “discrimination”. What he probably meant is every country have their own visa rules and regulations. My family member was trying to get visiting visa to Canada and got rejected because she accidentally put a 0 less in her income. She had to go through all the processes and pay all the fees again. No exceptions or considerations.

If Indian visa rules have additional measures to give visa to someone who has a dual passport and has frequent personal (non work-related) visits to Pakistan then they will ensure every step is cleared. Why should they change rules of national security and immigrants services for a cricket series?

Obviously I am assuming Khwaja makes frequent visits to Pakistan to visit family or has a dual passport here. Don’t think visa is issued on someone’s suspected DNA or country of origin.

I think he speaks for himself. You dont speak for him nor are you his lawyer.
 
Because every country in the world is allowed except one.
Weirdly Ex Pakistani cricketers with a different citizenship are also allowed lol

It’s not discriminating it’s self preservation. The declaration that you are of Pakistani origins ie if your parents/grandparents are from Pakistan or Pakistani held region needs to scrutinised for the safety of Indians
Only in case of medical visa for Pakistanis there are special exemptions and it gets fast tracked.
 
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Khawaja should have withdrawn from the tour. I would personally never apply for an Indian visa unless it was an unavoidable emergency.

The Jason Statham's on PP show the incarcerated and cancerous mindset of hatred they would kill to justify on social media. In real life, they would be meek kittens.

PS: no disrespect to the land that is India, or the real life and social media friends from India I have made over the years or the vast amount of Indians who are actually nice and levelheaded.
 
Because every country in the world is allowed except one.
Weirdly Ex Pakistani cricketers with a different citizenship are also allowed lol

Yes they are allowed because they hold another passport and the policy applies to one passport. Because of obvious reasons.
 
I have no issue with BCCI tax breaks I understand the reason, the reasoning of no Pakistani cricket players (commentators, coaches ex Pak cricketers seem to allowed)in IPL is only what i don’t understand..franchises can be allowed to make their own decisions.

Commentators and coaches are no more allowed.
 
Usman Khawaja, Australia’s most prolific batter over the past 12 months, has had his visa for arrival into India approved and will fly out of Australia on Thursday morning to link up with the Test squad.

The opening batter, who was this week crowned Australia's men’s Test player for the past year, was unable to board a flight bound for Bengaluru on Wednesday having not yet been approved for a visa.

That paperwork came through overnight on Wednesday and the 36-year-old was confirmed to fly out Thursday.

He will link up with the rest of the Aussie squad in Bengaluru where they are training at facilities in Alur, about an hour out of the city, until Monday before moving to Nagpur for next week’s series opener.

Players will re-familiarise themselves with subcontinental conditions over the coming days, with the series expected to be played in mostly spin-friendly conditions. Nagpur in particular has a reputation as a raging turner.

Those are conditions Khawaja was once considered susceptible in but the left-hander looked to have put that behind him after performing well on Australia’s Test tours of Pakistan and Sri Lanka last year.

A strong partnership with David Warner at the top of the order could go a long way to helping an Australian Test side overcome India on their home turf for the first time since 2004.

Khawaja had posted on social media about being left “stranded” by the delay, with a meme from the popular Netflix show Narcos of the forlorn-looking actor who plays Pablo Escobar.

None of the other members of the 18-player squad had issues gaining entry to India, with all of them bar Khawaja and Mitchell Starc (whose broken finger will sideline until later in the series) flying out on Tuesday and Wednesday.

The Pakistan-born opener has previously made many previous trips to India including both the 2013 and 2017 Test tours, though he did not play during either. Khawaja also faced visa challenges when he tried to enter the country in 2011 for the T20 Champion’s League due to, what he described at the time, as an ‘admin quirk’.

With the hold-up now resolved, the setback is only a minor one for Khawaja amid crucial preparation time for a tour that has been built up as one of the biggest held in years.
 
India and Pakistan are hostile to each other and have fought numerous wars/battles in the last half century. But obviously India would look to bar Pakistani cricketers (and I am sure vice versa if the shoe was on the other foot). No different from any number of countries be it Armenia/Azerbaijan, Saudi/Iran, N/S Korea etc. Hell, Pakistan does not even allow Israeli citizens into the country.
And just fyi. country of birth is the basis on which many countries decide on visas. Including the US.

Pakistan should be competing to make the PSL every bit as successful as IPL rather than crying about discrimination from their arch rival!
 
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What exactly is the noise about? Indians go through the same beauracratic process if they have to visit Pakistan . This is not ideal but the trend is on both side for reasons we all know. And yes even well meaning citizens on both sides are impacted because of the same but then it is what it is.
 
indian government is running a campaign to showcase muslims, specifically pakistanis, as dangerous, untrustworthy, and not befitting of "normal" treatment. who knows what they are setting up for. modi has gotten the majority of their country to fall in line to this pseudopatriotism based on xenophobia. if they make pakistanis seem like cockroaches, then when india inevitably starts a war one day, their countrymen and women will fall in line and be on board. this requires several years of brainwashing though which their government is currently doing a great job of. hopefully i'm wrong, but i see this as the inevitable end result of all this in a few years.
 
1. Visa checks are based on country of birth, if also holds Pakistani passports, or if parent was/is a Pakistani. every country has such different processes depending on the country and is discrimination.

2. this is not a problem with Muslims, as Amla, Moeen Ali, Iranians, Malaysians, Indonesians are not required to go through the process.

3. Why are Israelis not allowed in many Islamic countries? Is that discrimination? why can’t I get a Saudi visa, if my passport already holds an Israeli visa. Is that not discrimination?
 
IPL now issues visas?

Government of India does That and it scrutinises Pakistani origin foreign passport holders to safeguard Indians from another Mumbai like situation.
Citizens of Pakistan are a potential security threat so only in case of medical exemptions they are issued visas.
 
Government of India does That and it scrutinises Pakistani origin foreign passport holders to safeguard Indians from another Mumbai like situation.
Citizens of Pakistan are a potential security threat so only in case of medical exemptions they are issued visas.

so wait, a Pakistani player is a threat, but a pakisstani player who holds a pakistani passport and south african passport is not a threat?
 
so wait, a Pakistani player is a threat, but a pakisstani player who holds a pakistani passport and south african passport is not a threat?

Every Pakistani national is a risk and not a threat. Just risk management here from Indian govt.
 
I think he has been to India earlier. Delay may be due to some newer issues related to his brother.

-----------------------

Arsalan Khawaja jailed for framing UNSW colleague with a fake terror plot

The brother of Australian cricketer Usman Khawaja has been sentenced to four-and-a-half years in prison for using a fake terror plot to frame a colleague.

...

Khawaja scrawled blueprints about killing prominent politicians and attacking Sydney landmarks in a notepad he stole from the budding IT business analyst.

Mr Nizamdeen was charged with terror offences, grilled by detectives for hours without a lawyer, and spent four weeks in Goulburn Supermax before his charges were dropped.

NSW District Court Judge Robert Weber said Khawaja's "unforgivable" actions had "real and dire" consequences for Mr Nizamdeen.

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-11-05/arsalan-khawaja-sentenced-for-unsw-fake-terror-plot/12851200

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I think he has been to India earlier. Delay may be due to some newer issues related to his brother.

-----------------------

Arsalan Khawaja jailed for framing UNSW colleague with a fake terror plot

The brother of Australian cricketer Usman Khawaja has been sentenced to four-and-a-half years in prison for using a fake terror plot to frame a colleague.

...

Khawaja scrawled blueprints about killing prominent politicians and attacking Sydney landmarks in a notepad he stole from the budding IT business analyst.

Mr Nizamdeen was charged with terror offences, grilled by detectives for hours without a lawyer, and spent four weeks in Goulburn Supermax before his charges were dropped.

NSW District Court Judge Robert Weber said Khawaja's "unforgivable" actions had "real and dire" consequences for Mr Nizamdeen.

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-11-05/arsalan-khawaja-sentenced-for-unsw-fake-terror-plot/12851200

--------------------------------
Cannot blame India authorities. They made mistake of letting Headley in and he did some pretty good damaging surveillance work because "no one suspected" him because of changed nationality/ passport.
Mr Usman Khwaja is probably clean but his brother is in jail for'' whatever he is for" but he had knowledge and blueprints about killing prominent politicians and attacking Sydney landmarks which indicates he has been hanging out with some bad brainwashing influence. So I guess India he is ''more responsible'' for Usmans problem as relatives of known troublemaker are under more scrutiny always - be it in the local police station or visa office.
 
Every Pakistani national is a risk and not a threat. Just risk management here from Indian govt.

so plz tell me that how does the risk get averted when two pakistanis come in and only the one with a dual passport is allowed
 
so plz tell me that how does the risk get averted when two pakistanis come in and only the one with a dual passport is allowed

Could you forward this question to indian immigration office? I only have peripheral knowledge.
 
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