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Shoaib Bashir & Ben Stokes (Source: Twitter)
The English Test team and captain Ben Stokes were frustrated after young spinner Shoaib Bashir failed to join them in India because of a non-sporting reason. Bashir was supposed to be with the team in Hyderabad ahead of the first Test of the five-match series against India. But due to visa issues, he had to stay in Abu Dhabi where they had their training camp.
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Bashir, a 20-year-old British Muslim of Pakistani heritage, was the only member of England's Test squad stranded in the Emirate due to significant delays in obtaining visas. Efforts were made by the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) to smooth the process, but were unsuccessful. ECB's managing director of operations, Stuart Hooper, was also with the cricketer to resolve the issues.
Meanwhile, according to the latest reports, Bashir has returned home to sort out visa issues ahead of the series opener. He will be seeking the necessary approval at the Indian embassy in a bid to join the camp for the remainder of the series. Notably, the right-arm spinner was ruled out of the first Test.
I didn’t want this type of situation to be his first experience, says a frustrated Ben Stokes
Shoaib Bashir was a surprise name when England announced their squad for the Test series against India. After a successful brief stint with Somerset in first-class cricket, the youngster earned his maiden national call-up to the Test team. Captain Stokes expressed his frustration over the delay despite announcing the squad in mid-December.
“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. Especially for a young lad, I’m devastated for him," the all-rounder said, as quoted by AP.
“As captain, I find it particularly frustrating. We announced the squad in mid-December, and now Bash finds himself without a visa to get here. 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. It’s a frustrating situation to be in, but a lot of people have been trying to get it through," Stokes added.