HYDERABAD: England spinner Shoaib Bashir will miss the opening Test against India due to visa delay, according to media reports on Wednesday. Bashir is of Pakistani heritage, joined the squad in Abu Dhabi for training, but he has since returned home to address his visa issues, causing frustration for England captain Ben Stokes. The five-Test series is set to commence in Hyderabad on Thursday.
“We announced the squad in mid-December, and now ‘Bash’ finds himself without a visa to get here. “I am more frustrated for Bashir. I didn’t want this type of situation to be his first experience of what it’s like to be in the England Test team. I feel for him.”
The relations between India and Pakistan have deteriorated, resulting in a situation where they refrain from engaging in bilateral matches, except during multi-team events.
Individuals of Pakistani descent seeking an Indian visa are obligated to furnish supplementary information, as outlined on the website of the Indian High Commission in London.
A spokesperson for the England team was not promptly accessible to provide further details. Notably, Usman Khawaja, Australia’s opener of Pakistani origin, encountered a visa delay prior to their tour of India last year.
Furthermore, the Pakistan Cricket Board raised concerns about visa-related challenges before the 50-overs World Cup held in India last year.
