England’s Pakistan-origin off-spinner, Shoaib Bashir, has finally been granted a visa to participate in the upcoming five-match Test series against India, putting an end to the frustrating delay that left team captain Ben Stokes feeling “devastated.” The announcement was made by the England and Wales Cricket Board on social media, expressing relief that the situation has been resolved just ahead of the first Test in Hyderabad.
Bashir, a 20-year-old rookie playing for Somerset in the English county, had faced a prolonged wait for his visa, leading him to return to England from the team’s Abu Dhabi training base. Born in Surrey to a family of Pakistani heritage, the delay sparked controversy, with Stokes openly expressing his disappointment and the British government demanding fair treatment for the young cricketer.
Despite Bashir’s inclusion being a surprise, given his modest record of 10 wickets in six first-class games, the delay became a significant issue. Stokes, in a pre-match press conference, revealed his initial suggestion to postpone the team’s departure until Bashir received his visa was made tongue-in-cheek. However, he expressed genuine devastation over Bashir’s ordeal.
The British government spokesperson, while addressing the situation, emphasized the expectation of fair treatment for British citizens with Pakistani heritage during the Indian visa process. The Indian authorities have not yet commented on the matter.
Stokes expressed hope that Bashir would join the squad by the weekend, acknowledging the frustrating nature of the situation. He emphasized the emotional impact on the team when a teammate faces such challenges and reassured Bashir of the team’s full support.
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India’s captain, Rohit Sharma, also shared his perspective on the matter, expressing sympathy for Bashir and hoping for a swift resolution. The article highlighted that Australian opener Usman Khawaja faced a similar situation last year when he arrived late for a Test series in India.
Players of Pakistani heritage, with a Pakistani visa, must apply at the Indian High Commission in their respective countries to travel to India. While Bashir is expected to receive approval from the Indian High Commission in London, the delay prompted Stokes to express frustration, emphasizing the efforts made to expedite the process.
Stuart Hooper, the England and Wales Cricket Board’s MD (Operations), was in the UAE to speed up the visa procedure for Bashir, but the desired result was not achieved. Despite the frustrations, the team remains hopeful that Bashir will soon join them for the much-anticipated Test series against India.
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