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Just days ahead of the start of the five-match Test series, England have been handed another blow as they will miss the services of spinner Shoaib Bashir. The uncapped England spinner has been ruled out of the opening Test following the visa issues.
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The 20-year-old Surrey born cricketer, who has Pakistan link was unable to join the squad in India from the training camp in Abu Dhabi ahead of the series opener in Hyderabad. However, he has returned home to sort out the visa issues ahead of the commencement of the Test series in India.
I feel for him: Ben Stokes “frustrated” for Bashir
England skipper opened up after this sudden return of Bashir back home. “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. 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,” Stokes said after Bashir’s return to the UK.
The Three Lions skipper further addressed that this is not for the first time a cricketer has faced such a thing. “But he’s not the first cricketer to go through this, I have played with a lot of people who have had the same issues. I find it frustrating that we have picked a player and he’s not with us because of visa issues. Especially for a young lad, I’m devastated for him,” he further added.
It is to be noted that Usman Khawaja faced this issue and arrived late for Australia’s tour of India in 2023. Pakistan cricket team, just ahead of the ODI World Cup 2023 in India had also faced some visa concerns.
