The England cricket team has suffered a massive blow after pacer Saqib Mahmood was sidelined from the team’s pre-series training camp in Abu Dhabi due to visa issues. Notably, the England pacer Saqib Mahmood, who has Pakistan origin has faced delay in securing visa for the upcoming white-ball series against India, which is scheduled to kickstart from January 22.
The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has however remained tight-lipped on the matter, they are expecting that the issue will be resolved before the team travels to Kolkata on Friday, January 18 ahead of the T20I series. Apart from Mahmood, England’s pace unit including Jofra Archer, Mark Wood, Gus Atkinson and Brydon Carse will begin their camp under James Anderson’s guidance.
Saqib Mahmood latest to face visa issues ahead of India series
Notably, this isn’t the first instance when an England cricketer has faced similar concerns around his visa. Last year, Shoaib Bashir was ruled out of the first T20I in Hyderabad due to delay in securing his visa. Moreover, Mahmood encountered a similar situation six years ago, forcing him to withdraw from England Lions tours of India. However, two other players with Pakistan decent, Adil Rashid and Rehan Ahmed have reportedly cleared all formalities and have received their visas in time.
Coming to the upcoming international series, England will lock horns with India in a white-ball series consisting of five T20Is, followed by three ODIs. While the first T20I is scheduled to be played from January 22 in Kolkata, the sides will then move to Chennai for the second T20I. Rajkot, Pune and Mumbai will host a T20I match each, followed three ODIs which will be held in Nagpur, Cuttack and Ahmedabad respectively.
England’s T20I squad for India tour
Jos Buttler (Lancashire) (Captain), Rehan Ahmed (Leicestershire), Jofra Archer (Sussex), Gus Atkinson (Surrey), Jacob Bethell (Warwickshire), Harry Brook (Yorkshire), Brydon Carse (Durham), Ben Duckett (Nottinghamshire), Jamie Overton (Surrey), Jamie Smith (Surrey), Liam Livingstone (Lancashire), Adil Rashid (Yorkshire), Saqib Mahmood (Lancashire), Phil Salt (Lancashire), Mark Wood (Durham)
England's ODI squad for India tour
Jos Buttler (Lancashire) (Captain), Jofra Archer (Sussex), Gus Atkinson (Surrey), Jacob Bethell (Warwickshire), Harry Brook (Yorkshire), Brydon Carse (Durham), Ben Duckett (Nottinghamshire), Jamie Overton (Surrey), Jamie Smith (Surrey), Liam Livingstone (Lancashire), Adil Rashid (Yorkshire), Joe Root (Yorkshire), Saqib Mahmood (Lancashire), Phil Salt (Lancashire), Mark Wood (Durham)