England's rookie spinner Shoaib Bashir granted India visa after delay row

Shoaib Bashir (@englandcricket/X)

England cricketer Shoaib Bashir was finally granted a visa to enter India on Wednesday after initially being stopped from entering the country with the rest of Ben Stokes's squad for the upcoming IND vs ENG Test series.

"Shoaib Bashir has now received his visa, and is due to travel to join up with the team in India this weekend," said an England and Wales Cricket Board spokesman.

However, owing to the delay in sorting out his visa issues, the 16-year-old promising spinner is all but certain to sit the opening Test of the IND vs ENG Test series on Thursday.

Also Read: Will ‘Bazball' unleash its artistry in India?

Bashir, a rising spinner of Pakistani origin, was initially part of England's 16-man red-ball squad for the five-match series against India. However, he had to fly back to London owing to issues surrounding his visa clearance.

Bashir's situation came to light during England's preparatory camp in Abu Dhabi. The Somerset off-spinner didn't receive his visa, rendering him incapable of travelling with the rest of the squad.

"When I first found the news out in Abu Dhabi, I did say we shouldn't fly until Bash gets his visa. But that was a little bit tongue-in-cheek. I know it's a way bigger thing than doing that. That was probably just emotions around the whole thing. I'm pretty devastated that Bash has had to go through this," Stokes said.

Coming in support of the uncapped English spinner during a pre-match press conference on Wednesday, India skipper Rohit Sharma said, "I feel for him, honestly. Unfortunately, I don't sit in the visa office to give you more details on that, but hopefully, he can make it quickly, enjoy our country and play some cricket as well."

(With agency inputs)