NEW DELHI – England will play without Somerset off-spinner Shuaib Bashir in the first cricket Test against India. Born in Surrey, England to parents who immigrated from Pakistan, Basheer is yet to get an Indian visa. The England team returned to India after the camp in Abu Dhabi. The 20-year-old was waiting for a visa in Abu Dhabi. But Bashir was instructed to return to England and resolve the visa issue. Bashir has been told to go to the Indian High Commission in London.
Captain Ben Stokes expressed his displeasure that Bashir had to deal with such a situation on his England Test debut. He is a little boy and I am devastated. We announced the team in mid-December. But the visa was not received at the last minute – Stokes said. A British government spokesperson disclosed that the issue has been reported to the central government. The government’s position is that all British citizens should be treated with dignity, the spokesperson said.
During the World Cup held in India, Indian visas were delayed for Pakistanis and people of Pakistani origin. Then the Pakistan Cricket Board filed a complaint with the ICC. Last year, the Australian team arrived without Usman Khawaja, who was delayed in getting his visa.
The remaining 14-player team has been in Hyderabad for a week after completing the camp in Abu Dhabi. Even in Abu Dhabi, middle-order batsman Harry Brooke had returned home due to personal reasons. Brooke is not coming back. Dan Lawrence has been included in the team instead. The first match of the five-Test series begins in Hyderabad on Thursday.
The England Cricket Board had requested the BCCI and the central government to complete Basheer’s visa process as soon as possible. England coach Brendon McCullum expressed his belief that Basheer will arrive soon.
The England coach had said that Basheer would get the news of visa approval within a few hours. The 20-year-old, who had only 10 first-class wickets at a whopping average of 67 runs, was a surprise pick for England. Basheer’s performance in the UAE for England’s second tier, the England Lions, has been in his favour. The England team management feels that Basheer’s high release point and good turn will make him dangerous on Indian pitches.
2024-01-24 03:14:48
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