England Spinner Shoaib Bashir has returned to the United Kingdom after facing a Visa-related issue. The Somerset player was due to fly to India along with the England team from the hot-weather camp in Abu Dhabi. However, he had to return to his country.
As things panned out, Bashir was sent back to the UK as he failed to secure himself a visa to India. The Indian High Commission in London did not grant the rookie spinner the documentation for his entry India.
Shoaib Bashir received his maiden senior-team call-up for the India tour. His denial of a visa has left everyone in the England team, especially skipper Ben Stokes, perplexed.
Why will Shoaib Bashir miss the first Test in Hyderabad?
20-year-old spinner, Shoaib Bashir has been ruled out of the inaugural Test of the five-match series in Hyderabad. The finger-spinner faced a visa issue ahead of his travel to India.
Having been born in the United Kingdom, Shoaib Bashir holds British citizenship. However, he is of Pakistani descent. Bashir's heritage links with India's neighbours is the root cause of his not receiving the Indian visa in time.
Instead of travelling with his teammates, Bashir has flown back to London, to answer a round of questions and submit the relevant paperwork. Bashir would have to submit a bucket-load of documents to prove himself worthy of being granted an Indian visa.
MORE: IND vs ENG Test series: Matches, schedule, dates, venues
How could Shoaib Bashir get his Indian visa?
Being a Pakistan-origin player, Bashir would have to submit bank documents, travel history from the past, detailed information about parents and grandparents, copies of Identity proofs, and other relevant documents.
The entire process would take 6-8 weeks, if not more. The Wales and England Cricket Board raised the issue to the Indian High Commission in London, but the process is expected to carry the same rigour for times to come.
For those curious, the process for a UK citizen of Pakistani origin to aquire an Indian visa usually takes between 6-8 weeks. On rare occasions, it happens faster. Sometimes (as was the case with me) it can take a lot longer. You're required to supply all the same documentation…
— Aatif Nawaz (@AatifNawaz) January 23, 2024
When will Shoaib Bashir arrive in India?
England team arrived in India on Sunday, January 21, 2024. Shoaib Bashir was the sole exception to have been left out.
On Wednesday, the ECB confirmed that Bashir has finally received his visa and is scheduled to travel to India this weekend.
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.
What did Ben Stokes say about Shoaib Bashir's visa issue?
Ben Stokes was exasperated by Bashir's inability to travel to India with the rest of the squad. In the pre-tournament presser, the England skipper said.
I’m devastated for him. As captain I find it particularly frustrating that we have picked a player and he’s not with us because of visa issues, Stokes stated in the conference.
Stokes added,
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. But he’s not the first cricketer to go through this; I have played with a lot of people who have had the same issues, Stokes reminded.
In the past, the likes of Moeen Ali and Saqib Mahmood from England, and Australia's Usman Khawaja were also handed over delayed visas due to their ancestral ties with Pakistan.
In Bashir's absence, fellow spinner Tom Hartley could make his way into the playing XI.
MORE: Who is Tom Hartley? England's Jadeja and Axar clone set to debut against India
