Shoaib Bashir: England spinner to miss first Test in India after flying home to resolve visa issues
Shaoib Bashir was told he needed to return to London with his passport to receive the correct approval at the Indian embassy; Bashir hopes to return to India by the weekend but will miss the first Test, starting on Thursday
Wednesday 24 January 2024 13:19, UK
Unease over the treatment of young England spinner Shoaib Bashir has escalated on the eve of the Test series in India after he was forced to fly home to resolve visa complications.
Bashir, a 20-year-old British Muslim of Pakistani heritage, was the only member of the touring party to experience a significant delay over his application and remained grounded after a training camp in Abu Dhabi while his team-mates transferred to Hyderabad.
The England and Wales Cricket Board had hoped the matter could be resolved in the United Arab Emirates - where its managing director of operations Stuart Hooper remained with Bashir - but a solution was not found.
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The ECB called in assistance from its counterparts at the Board of Control for Cricket in India and it is understood Bashir was told he needed to return to London with his passport to receive the correct approval at the Indian embassy.
Although Bashir had been unlikely to feature in Thursday's first Test, he has formally been taken out of contention for a debut due to the setback. It is hoped he will be reunited with the squad at some point over the weekend.
"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," captain Ben Stokes said. "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. He's not the first cricketer to go through this. I have played with a lot of people who have had the same issues. I find it frustrating that we have picked a player and he's not with us because of visa issues.
"It's a frustrating situation to be in but a lot of people have been trying to get it through. 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."
A Downing Street spokeswoman said: "I can't speak to the process and what's happened in this individual case. I'm not aware we've had the details of this case raised with us by individuals involved and individual cases would be a matter for the Indian government themselves. But we have raised the issue more broadly and our position is that British citizens should be treated fairly when going through this process."
Sharma: I honestly feel sympathy for Bashir
India captain Rohit Sharma has expressed sympathy for Bashir after the visa complications delayed his arrival in the country.
It is not the first time players with links to Pakistan have experienced hold-ups in India, with Lancashire's Saqib Mahmood and Australia opener Usman Khawaja among that number. The Pakistan Cricket Board wrote to the International Cricket Council late last year due to delays over visas for their World Cup squad.
After England skipper Stokes said he was "devastated" for the uncapped 20-year-old, his opposite number offered solidarity.
"I feel for him honestly," said Sharma.
"Unfortunately I don't sit in the visa office to give you more details on that but hopefully he can make it quickly, enjoy our country and plays some cricket as well.
"It's not easy for anyone, it could be one of our guys wanting to come to England and being denied."
Bashir visa problem an 'avoidable mess'
Sky Sports' Michael Atherton:
"It's a ridiculous situation, really, given you've got a team that was selected in early December... we're now at January 24th and he hasn't got it (his visa).
"It's not the first time that a cricketer from a Pakistani heritage has had visa issues in getting into India. We saw that with Usman Khawaja delayed for an Australian tour, Saqib Mahmood for an England Lions tour.
"Stokes is the captain and sees a 20-year-old there, who is having his first experience in England colours, who was looking forward to coming to India for the first time, and so he was pretty strong on it.
"He wouldn't have played, I don't think, but he was in the mix because he'd impressed. And it only takes a little bit of illness... if a spinner goes down ill overnight here, England would be forced to compromise on the balance and selection of their team."
Sky Sports' Nasser Hussain:
"It just feels like a mess, and an avoidable mess, with a 20-year-old back in London trying to sort out his visa seven weeks after it was first sorted out.
"Stokes spoke about 'bashing some heads together', and you just feel that shouldn't be happening the day before a Test match. It should have been happening weeks ago. It was a mess that could be and should have been avoided."
Root to open the bowling?! England name spin-heavy XI
Lancashire's Tom Hartley is set to make his England debut in the first Test against India in a team dominated by spinners.
Left-armer Hartley joins the established Jack Leach and teenage leg-spinner Rehan Ahmed in an attack that suggests the tourists expect lavish turn, with Joe Root a fourth spin option.
Mark Wood has been picked as the only seam bowler in the side, meaning England's record wicket-taker James Anderson sits the match out.
With Wood operating best in short, rapid bursts, England are ready to embrace an entirely different rhythm of cricket. Root's off-breaks are also likely to feature heavily and Stokes has even suggested he could open the bowling with the part-timer.
Ben Foakes returns as wicketkeeper, with Jonny Bairstow reverting to a specialist batting role at No 5.
Follow England's five-Test series in India across Sky Sports' digital platforms with live blogs and reports. The opening game is in Hyderabad from Thursday (4am UK time). Watch all the best live sport and more with NOW.
