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“Shoaib Bashir has now acquired his visa, and is because of journey to join up with the workforce in India this weekend,” an ECB spokesman mentioned. “We’re glad the scenario has now been resolved.”
Stokes’ emotional response got here in Abu Dhabi throughout England’s pre-tour coaching camp, when it emerged Bashir had not acquired his paperwork, leaving him unable to journey with the remainder of the squad and England’s assist workers on Sunday.
“Once I first discovered the information out in Abu Dhabi, I did say we should not fly till Bash will get his visa,” Stokes mentioned. “However that was slightly bit tongue in cheek. I do know it is a manner larger factor than doing that. That was in all probability simply feelings round the entire thing. I am fairly devastated that Bash has needed to undergo this.
“As a pacesetter, as a captain, when certainly one of your team-mates is affected by one thing like that, you get a bit emotional. I do know he is again in London and lots of people are leaping via hoops to attempt to get this via faster.
“Hopefully, we’re gonna see him right here over the weekend. There was by no means a [realistic] likelihood that we had been ever not going to journey round this however Bash is aware of he is had our full assist.”
The British authorities intervened on Wednesday, reiterating its stance that India ought to deal with British residents “pretty” once they apply for visas. A authorities spokesperson advised ESPNcricinfo: “The specifics of this case are a matter for Shoaib Bashir and the Indian Authorities.”
The spokesperson added: “However we completely count on India to deal with British residents pretty always in its visa course of. We’ve got beforehand raised the problems British residents with Pakistani heritage expertise making use of for visas with the Indian Excessive Fee in London.”
The ECB had acquired fixed assurances from the BCCI and India Excessive Fee that the matter could be resolved, however the delay meant that Bashir was dominated out of rivalry for the primary Test – for which England have chosen three specialist spinners together with one other uncapped vacationer in Tom Hartley.
With the matter now resolved, it’s understood that Bashir will spend a few days at house to decompress after the ordeal. The second Test of the five-match collection begins on Friday 2, in Visakhapatnam.
“Hopefully, we’re going to see him again in India over the weekend,” mentioned Stokes. “My emotions in the direction of it have not modified. It is clearly a irritating scenario – extra importantly, for him. We introduced our squad mid-December. It is now January 24 and he nonetheless would not have the visa.”
England introduced their squad on December 11 and the ECB submitted visa purposes instantly after. Rehan Ahmed, the opposite participant within the Test squad with Pakistani heritage, already had the required paperwork after being on standby through the World Cup final yr.
“Hopefully we will get this sorted, we will get Bash out right here and he can consider the remainder of this tour,” Stokes added. “It is unlucky he is needed to undergo one thing like this on his first expertise of being within the England workforce.”
Rohit Sharma, India’s captain expressed his sympathy for Bashir’s plight. “I really feel for him, actually,” he mentioned. “Sadly I do not sit within the visa workplace to provide you extra particulars on that, however hopefully he could make it shortly, get pleasure from our nation and play some cricket as nicely.”
Further reporting: Matt Curler. This story was up to date at 13.15pm GMT following the information of Bashir’s visa
Vithushan Ehantharajah is an affiliate editor at ESPNcricinfo
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