India vs England: Uncapped bowler Shoaib Bashir receives visa, to fly to India in upcoming weekend

England spinner Shoaib Bashir received his Indian visa on Wednesday, a day before England’s Test series against India is scheduled to get underway. It had been reported on Wednesday that the uncapped cricketer had been ruled out of the first Test, and was forced to return home from Abu Dhabi owing to visa-related issues.

“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,” England Cricket posted on ‘Shoaib X’.

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.#INDvENG | #EnglandCricket pic.twitter.com/vTHdChIOIi

— England Cricket (@englandcricket) January 24, 2024

Bashir, a cricketer of Pakistani-origin, had been training with the England team in Abu Dhabi. A delay in visa-related paperwork, however, meant that Bashir would miss the flight to India with the rest of his teammates.

England skipper Ben Stokes had termed the development as “frustrating” whereas an official of the British government had demanded a “fair treatment of Bashir.

“When I first found the news out in Abu Dhabi, I did say we shouldn’t fly until Bash gets his visa,” Stokes had said during the pre-match press conference in Hyderabad.

“But that was a little bit tongue in cheek. I know it’s a way bigger thing than doing that. That was probably just emotions around the whole thing.

“I’m pretty devastated that Bash has had to go through this,” Stokes added.

Bashir, 20, is yet to make his Test debut for England. The Somerset cricketer has played six first-class matches and taken 10 wickets. As far as his List A cricket career is concerned, Bashir has played seven matches wherein he has taken three wickets.