England Cricketer Shoaib Bashir Flies Back Home to Resolve Visa Issues Ahead of Test Series

England cricketer Shoaib Bashir has returned home to resolve his visa issues ahead of the Test series against India. Bashir, a 20-year-old British Muslim of Pakistani heritage, faced a significant delay in obtaining his visa, which made him the only member of the England touring party dealing with such issues. While the rest of the team proceeded to Hyderabad for the first test after a training camp in Abu Dhabi, Bashir remained in the United Arab Emirates.

The England and Wales Cricket Board had hoped to resolve the matter in the UAE, where their managing director of operations, Stuart Hooper, stayed with Bashir. However, a solution could not be found, and Bashir has now returned to England to seek the necessary approval at the Indian embassy.

Although Bashir was unlikely to play in the first Test, the visa-related events surrounding his debut international tour have left the England camp frustrated. England captain Ben Stokes expressed his disappointment, stating, ‘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.’

Bashir’s situation is not unique, as several cricketers of Pakistani descent have faced entry issues into India in the past. This includes Usman Khawaja, who experienced a delayed entry to join Australia’s tour last year, and Saqib Mahmood, who had to withdraw from an England Lions trip due to similar problems in 2019.