IND vs ENG: Rehan Ahmed Stopped At Rajkot Airport As England Visa Issues Resurface

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Approximately 10 days following the visa controversy involving England spinner Shoaib Bashir, his fellow English teammate, Rehan Ahmed, now finds himself entangled in a similar predicament.

Ahmed (19) was barred from entry into India after he and his fellow England team members had taken a trip to Abu Dhabi during the 10-day interval between the second and third Test matches. Reports indicate that Ahmed was halted at Rajkot's Hirasar airport due to inadequate documentation for entry into the country.

According to a Sportstar report, the leg-spinner was detained at the airport because he possessed a single-entry visa. Recognising the urgency of the situation, local authorities attempted to provide a temporary solution by granting him a 2-day visa extension.

Nevertheless, the England camp has been advised to resolve the issue completely within the next two days. It's worth noting that individuals holding single-entry visas are prohibited from exiting and re-entering the country.

Despite this setback, the England team remains hopeful that the matter will be fully resolved within the next 24 hours. Apart from Ahmed, the other members of the traveling squad and support staff encountered no issues and reached their hotel in Rajkot by Monday evening.

An official from the BCCI stated, "The England team has been instructed to reapply for the visa, a process that will take place within the next two days. The player was allowed to enter the country with the rest of the team and will participate in practice on Tuesday."

This incident marks the first time an international flight has landed directly in Rajkot, prompting the establishment of a temporary immigration counter with officials from Jamnagar overseeing the situation. Of the 31 members of the travelling England contingent scheduled to enter India, only Ahmed encountered visa-related complications.

Unlike Bashir, Ahmed faced no obstacles during his initial entry into India with the rest of the England squad. With three more Tests remaining in the series, England is eager to resolve Ahmed's visa issue promptly, with the next match slated to begin on February 15.