Young English bowler Shoaib Bashir has been ruled out of the first Test against Team India in Hyderabad as he reportedly returned to UK due to delay in receiving his visa on Tuesday.
Bashir, 20-year-old British Muslim of Pakistan heritage, has been struggling to obtain his visa for India tour over the last one month. Shoaib Bashir was with the England Test squad in Dubai for training camp ahead of five-match Test series against India, starting on January 25.
It has been reported that Shoaib Bashir stayed back in Dubai while teammates headed to Hyderabad for the first Test against Rohit Sharma-led side.
As per the reports, England and Wales Cricket Board took the matter to Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) to resolve Sohaib Bashir's visa issue. Nonetheless, ECB asked Bashir to return to UK and address the matter directly with the Indian Embassy.
Sohaib Bashir is latest addition to the list of cricketers with Pakistan heritage to have faced visa delay enroute to India. Australian opener Usman Khawaja faced similar situation when Aussies toured India for the five-match Test series last year.
Ben Stokes feels 'frustrated' over Bashir's visa delay
England all-rounder and Test captain Ben Stokes admitted that he felt frustrated over Shoaib Bashir's constant delay in receiving his visa. He insisted that ECB announced the Test squad for India tour in mid-December.
"Especially as captain I find it particularly frustrating. We announced that squad in mid-December, and now Bash finds himself without a visa to get here. I am more frustrated for him." Stokes said.
"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. I feel for him,” he added.
Ben Stokes confirmed that Bashir has been ruled out of the first Test against India. Shoaib Bashir would've been contention for the Test series opener given the spinning track in nature.
"Him not being able to be here rules him out. We didn't come here with preconceived ideas about what we will do with the first team. In India you do like to have a good look at the pitch to see how it might play. With Bash unfortunately not able to be here, it rules him out of this game,” England Test skipper said.
