NEW DELHI: England's uncapped spinner Shoaib Bashir has been effectively ruled out of the first Test of the tour to India following complications with his visa application.
The 20-year-old Surrey-born cricketer of Pakistani heritage was unable to join the squad in India from their training camp in Abu Dhabi ahead of the series opener in Hyderabad starting Thursday.
The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) had initially hoped for assistance from the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) to resolve the visa issue. However, reports now confirm that Bashir was instructed to return to London to address the matter directly with the Indian High Commission.
While Bashir's Test debut on Thursday was unlikely, the frustration for the England team lies in the fact that the decision has been taken out of their hands. The team now hopes that the off-spinner will manage to return to India over the weekend.
Expressing disappointment, captain Ben Stokes remarked, "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. 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... It's unfortunate, and I'm very frustrated for him. With Bash unfortunately not able to be here, it rules him out of this game," Stokes added.
1/10:England's 'Bazball' faces biggest challenge against India
Reuters
2/10:England vs India: Clash of Titans
England's "Bazball" style of attacking cricket faces its biggest challenge yet when they play an India side who have not lost a home Test series in more than a decade.Getty Images
3/10:England's last victory in India
Alastair Cook's team was the last to beat India on home turf in a four-match series.Getty Images
4/10:Spin: England's key to success
Monty Panesar, who was part of that team, said the tourists had nothing to fear in a series where spin is expected to play a huge part.TOI Sports
5/10:Stokes: The captain's challenge
Ben Stokes faces his biggest challenge in making Bazball successful on turning pitches.Getty Images
6/10:England's preparation in Abu Dhabi
England prepared in Abu Dhabi instead of playing a tour match in India, which drew criticism in some quarters at home and raised fears England could be "undercooked".Getty Images
7/10:The task facing England
England's task in India is immense, but a victory could make Stokes one of the greatest captains ever.Getty Images
8/10:England under McCullum
Brendon McCullum has helped transform England's red-ball fortunes with an attacking brand of cricket.Getty Images
9/10:Anderson's superhuman feat
41-year-old James Anderson's remarkable career continues as he leads England's bowling attack in India.Getty Images
10/10:Leach: England's frontline spinner
Jack Leach will play a crucial role as England's frontline spinner in the Test series against India.Getty ImagesThis incident follows previous complaints from the Pakistan Cricket Board to the International Cricket Council regarding visa delays during the recent World Cup in India. Pakistani journalists were similarly affected, adding to the ongoing diplomatic tensions between the two countries.
Instances of cricketers of Pakistani descent facing challenges in gaining entry to India are not unprecedented, with batsman Usman Khawaja experiencing delays during Australia's tour of the country last year.
A Downing Street spokeswoman stated, "Our position is that British citizens should be treated fairly when going through this process." The British government has reportedly raised the broader issue with the Indian government.
England's head coach, Brendon McCullum, had expressed optimism earlier in the week, stating, "We're confident on the back of the help from the BCCI and the Indian government that it will sort itself out pretty quickly."
However, it seems that McCullum's optimism was misplaced, and Bashir's situation remains unresolved as the team prepares for the first match of the five-Test series.
(With inputs from AFP)
