The delay in issuance of an Indian visa to rookie England off-spinner Shoaib Bashir snowballed into a serious controversy on the eve of a much-hyped Take a look at collection between the 2 international locations with visiting skipper Ben Stokes calling the flip of occasions “irritating” and a British authorities spokesperson demanding “truthful” therapy for the teenager. The 20-year-old, who performs for Somerset within the English county, was compelled to go again to England from the crew’s Abu Dhabi coaching base after a chronic wait to safe an Indian visa. His household is of Pakistani heritage.
Bashir, who’s a shock inclusion within the squad with a mediocre 10 wickets from simply six first-class video games, was by no means in competition for a spot within the squad for the opening Take a look at beginning right here on Thursday.
“After I first discovered the information out in Abu Dhabi, I did say we should not fly till Bash will get his visa,” Stokes mentioned within the pre-match press convention.
“However that was a bit of bit tongue in cheek. I do know it is a approach larger factor than doing that. That was most likely simply feelings round the entire thing. I am fairly devastated that Bash has needed to undergo this,” he added.
An unnamed British authorities spokesperson informed ‘ESPNcricinfo that it is not the primary time that residents of Pakistani heritage have confronted a delay in securing Indian visas.
“The specifics of this case are a matter for Shoaib Bashir and the Indian Authorities. However we completely count on India to deal with British residents pretty always in its visa course of.
“We’ve beforehand raised the problems British residents with Pakistani heritage expertise making use of for visas with the Indian Excessive Fee in London,” he mentioned.
India have, to date, not commented on the matter.
Bashir is again in London and Stokes hoped that he would be capable to be a part of the squad by the top of this week. “…hopefully, we’ll see him again in India over the weekend. The sentiments we’ve got in the direction of it (the visa episode) hasn’t modified. It is clearly a irritating scenario,” Stokes mentioned.
“As a frontrunner, as a captain, when certainly one of your teammates is affected by one thing like that, you get a bit emotional. I do know he is again in London and lots of people are leaping by hoops to attempt to get this by faster…Bash is aware of he is had our full assist.
“, we had introduced our squad mid-December. Now, it is January 24 and we nonetheless haven’t got a cause for Shoaib’s absence right here…hopefully, we will recover from and he can even simply consider the remainder of his tour,” he added.
India captain Rohit Sharma additionally provided his view on the matter in his pre-match press convention right here and hoped that Bashir could be seen in motion quickly.
“I really feel for him. He’s coming, I believe, for the primary time. Sadly I do not sit in visa workplace to make the choice. Hopefully he’ll make it right here quickly,” Rohit mentioned.
Australian opener Usman Khawaja, who’s of Pakistani origin as properly, confronted an analogous scenario when he arrived late for the Take a look at collection in India final yr.
Gamers of Pakistani heritage, who’ve a Pakistani visa, have to use on the Indian Excessive Fee of their respective international locations to have the ability to journey to India.
Whereas Bashir is anticipated to get the stamp of approval from Indian Excessive Fee in London, the flip of occasions left Stokes a tad irked.
“He isn’t the primary cricketer to undergo this. I’ve performed with lots of people who’ve had the identical points,” Stokes mentioned.
One other participant of Pakistani origin, Saqib Mahmood, could not journey to India in 2019 for an ‘A’ collection.
England and Wales Cricket Board’s MD (Operations) Stuart Hooper was within the UAE to hurry up the process for Bashir nevertheless it did not get the specified consequence.
“I discover it irritating that we’ve got picked a participant and he is not with us due to visa points. It is a irritating scenario to be in however lots of people have been attempting to get it by,” Stokes reiterated.
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