MLC hope for Afghan participation after Trump ban with expectation that MLC is classified as ‘major sporting event’.
MLC hope for Afghanistan players’ participation after Trump’s travel ban.
Trump’s declaration will “fully restrict and limit the entry” of citizens of the following 12 nations entering the United States: Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Yemen, Burma, Chad, Republic of Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, and Afghanistan. “Protect the national security and national interest of the United States and its people,” he argued, is the stated purpose of the prohibition.
For MLC 2025, seven Afghanistan players have contracts: Noor (Texas Super Kings); Gulbadin Naib, Fazalhaq Farooqi, and Waqar Salamkheil (all Seattle Orcas); Rashid, Azmatullah Omarzai, and Naveen-ul-Haq (all MI New York).
“Any athlete or member of an athletic team… travelling for the World Cup, Olympics, or other major sporting event as determined by the Secretary of State” is exempt from the restriction, which takes effect at 12.01 a.m. Eastern Time on Monday, June 9.
The order also states: “This proclamation shall apply only to foreign nationals of the designation countries who: (i) are outside the United States on the applicable effective date of this proclamation; and (ii) do not have a valid visa on the applicable effective date of this proclamation.”
An MLC spokesperson said: “We’re continuing to monitor the situation and are working with the relevant authorities to minimize travel disruptions for overseas players ahead of the start of Major League Cricket next week. We continue to attract some of the best players from around the world to come over to the US to showcase their talent, along with the best cricketers from the USA, and we are set to have the most exciting tournament to date this summer.”