England were left frustrated and disappointed on Monday evening after uncapped Shoaib Bashir was unable to take part in the tour of India due to a visa delay.
On a dramatic day when Indian superstar Virat Kohli faked Harry Brook’s withdrawal from the start of the series for personal reasons, 20-year-old Bashir was placed under house arrest in Abu Dhabi, where England recently concluded a 10-day training camp.
Although Test coach Brendon McCullum responded to the situation diplomatically, saying ‘everyone is doing what they can’, the ECB felt compelled to escalate matters to the Board of Control for Cricket in India and to government level. strong team.
Somerset’s budding off-spinner was born in Chertsey, Surrey, but is the latest international cricketer to face Indian red tape due to his parents’ birthplace of Pakistan.
Bashir’s visa application was submitted in the second week of December, hours after England included him in their squad for the five-Test tour, but as was the case with Australian Usman Khawaja 12 months ago, his paperwork was not completed in time.
Shoaib Bashir cannot join England in India due to visa issues due to his Pakistani origins
Bashir (pictured in action for Somerset) remains on the ground in the United Arab Emirates
Rehan Ahmed, England’s other player of Pakistani descent, was able to travel as planned because he holds an existing visa issued in accordance with his selection as a reserve player for last autumn’s World Cup on the subcontinent.
Political tensions between India and Pakistan – it has been 11 years since they have played each other outside the ICC competition – affected Babar Azam’s team ahead of that 2023 tournament, as the documentation was only released 48 hours before their departure Lahore was postmarked. Pakistani players are also banned from playing in the lucrative Indian Premier League.
McCullum insisted Bashir would still be available for the first Test starting in Hyderabad on Thursday – when the Bens, Stokes and Foakes are expected to return from injury and omission as captain and wicketkeeper respectively – despite missing England’s first two training sessions of the tour, emphasizing confidence that the situation would be resolved quickly.
The same went for Dan Lawrence, who was on his way to central India overnight after being chosen as Brook’s replacement.
England Player of the Year Brook returned to Yorkshire this weekend due to a serious situation involving a loved one and will be absent from the international field for an indefinite period.
Harry Brook is on his way home from England’s tour of India for personal reasons
“Obviously our thoughts are with Harry and his family, it’s a difficult time,” McCullum said.
“It’s a privileged position to play cricket for a living, but some things are more important than that.
“There’s a chance he might return later in the tour, but for now we just want him to be with his family and do his thing.”
Meanwhile, India on Monday mulled over a replacement for former captain Kohli, who reported to Hyderabad but did not train with his colleagues at the Rajiv Gandhi Stadium after informing his successor Rohit Sharma that he would not be available for the first two Tests of five due to other matters that require his ‘undivided attention’.
Sussex captain Cheteshwar Pujara and Rajat Patidar, fresh from scoring two hundreds against England Lions this month, were both being considered as Kohl’s replacement in the home order.