Unexpected visa issues prevented England’s talented spinner Shoaib Bashir from playing in the opening Test match against India, which was a blow to the cricket squad. Because of issues with his visa application, Shoaib Bashir—who is of Pakistani descent—was unable to join the team in Hyderabad on time. After the training camp in Abu Dhabi, he was forced to return home, delaying his Test debut for the time being. The English camp is waiting for a resolution as Thursday’s series opener in Hyderabad draws near.
The hope that the England and Wales Cricket Board and the Board of Control for Cricket in India may work out a solution for Shoaib Bashir’s visa issue has diminished. According to reports from the Indian British media, Bashir received instructions from the Indian High Commission to return to London in order to obtain the necessary documentation.
The English side had expected their Indian counterparts to help them sort this out.
Ahead of the recent World Cup in India, the Pakistan Cricket Board had previously complained to the International Cricket Council about delays in the processing of visas. In the context of the complicated relationship between the two countries, the scenario reflects a diplomatic pressure that affects journalists as well as cricket teams.
Ben Stokes expressed his frustration with Shoaib Bashir’s Visa situation.
Captain Ben Stokes of England voiced his dissatisfaction with the protracted hold-up in Shoaib Bashir’s visa approval. Concerning the hardship that the continued visa problems are causing, Stokes pointed out that Bashir’s involvement in the series is currently in jeopardy. Unexpected obstacles have arisen in the ECB’s attempts to settle the dispute before the pivotal series opener.
“I find that especially frustrating in my role as captain. We revealed that team in the middle of December, and as of right now, Bash is unable to enter the country with a visa. I feel more resentment toward him. I didn’t want him to learn about what it’s like to be on the England Test team from this kind of situation. I’m sorry for him. However, I have played with several cricketers who have experienced similar problems, so he is not the only one. According to ESPN Cricinfo, Stokes stated, “I find it frustrating that we have picked a player and he’s not with us because of visa issues.”
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