England spinner Shoaib Bashir is due to link up with his team-mates in India this weekend after solving the visa issues which prevented him from travelling to Hyderabad.
Bashir – who is of Pakistani descent – was forced to remain in Abu Dhabi after a training camp when England’s red-ball party travelled to India ahead of the first of five Tests, which begins on Thursday.
The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) enlisted the aid of the Board of Control for Cricket in India as they attempted to secure approval for Bashir to travel to the country, but he was forced to return to the Indian embassy in London to get the green light.
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Captain Ben Stokes was frustrated by the treatment of Bashir, saying on Tuesday: “Especially for a young lad, I’m devastated for him.
“As captain I find it particularly frustrating. We announced the squad in mid-December and now Bash finds himself without a visa to get here.”
Shoaib Bashir has now received his visa, and is due to travel to join up with the team in India this weekend.
We’re glad the situation has now been resolved.#INDVENG | #ENGLANDCRICKET PIC.TWITTER.COM/VTHDCHIOII
— England Cricket (@englandcricket) JANUARY 24, 2024
However, on Wednesday it was confirmed that Bashir had received his visa and would be able to travel to India this weekend, ahead of the second Test starting on February 2.
In a statement confirming Bashir was free to travel to India, the ECB said: “We’re glad the situation has now been resolved.”
A spokesperson for the Indian Foreign Office insisted Bashir’s treatment was no different to that received by any other visa applicant, saying: “The visa has been issued by London.
“There are rules and regulations governing the issuance of an Indian visa. The same were being applied in this case.”
