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Star England player stopped at Rajkot Airport prior to third Test against India

Following this unexpected turn of events, the England & Wales Cricket Board released a statement and cleared the air about the miscommunication spreading.

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Mathew K
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England Team (Source: Twitter)

Actions and controversies continue outside the cricketing arena in the England tour to India series. During England's tour of India, Rehan Ahmed encountered another visa setback at Hirasar airport in Rajkot, attributed to insufficient paperwork. On Monday, reports emerged detailing Rehan's inability to return to India after the mid-series break in Abu Dhabi because of possessing a single-entry visa.

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Following a short delay, the local authorities offered a temporary solution for the leg-spinner. England maintains optimism that the issue will be resolved within 24 hours. By Monday evening, all members of the touring squad and support staff had gathered at the team hotel in Rajkot. The incident underscored the intricacies involved in tours by international cricketers of Pakistani heritage and the visa regulations in India.

"The England team has been advised to process the visa again which will be happening in the next two days. The player was allowed to enter the country with the rest of the team and he will be appearing in practice on Tuesday," an India Cricket Board official was quoted as reported by the Hindustan Times.

ECB issues statement after spinner Rehan Ahmed faces Visa issue

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Merely weeks after the Shoaib Bashir incident, another England cricketer, Rehan Ahmed faced a visa problem when he was halted at Hirasar Airport on Tuesday prior to the third Test against India. While the issues were resolved, with the player receiving a temporary visa, further action is required for Ahmed to remain with the England squad for the remaining three Tests against India. Following this unexpected turn of events, the England & Wales Cricket Board released a statement.

"We were advised, on returning to India, that there was a paperwork discrepancy with Rehan Ahmed's visa. The local authorities at Rajkot Airport were supportive, enabling Rehan entry on a temporary visa. The correct visa should be processed and issued in the coming days. He will continue to prepare with the rest of the squad ahead of the third Test," the ECB said in a statement on Tuesday as per NDTV Sports.

 

Rehan Ahmed