India vs England: Shoaib Bashir Receives Visa After Delay; To Join English Squad Soon

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England's secret weapon Shoaib Bashir is also set to join the squad soon for the India vs England Test series as the uncapped off-spinner was granted a visa after delay. However, the delay certainly rules him out of the first Test, which begins on Thursday (January 25).

The 16-year-old spinner was earlier expected to play the first Test in Hyderabad before the visa delay stranded him in the UAE. The ECB released a statement on Wednesday, confirming that Bashir's visa issues were sorted and he will link up with the team in India later in the week.

"Shoaib Bashir has now received his visa and is due to travel to join up with the team in India this weekend. We're glad the situation has now been resolved," a statement from ECB read.

Earlier in the day, England Test captain Ben Stokes disclosed that he had suggested that the national squad hold off on traveling to India until uncapped spinner Shoaib Bashir's visa-related problems are sorted. He added, though, that the proposal was not pursued.

Rising spinner Shoaib Bashir, who was born in Pakistan, was originally included in England's red-ball squad of sixteen players for the five-match series against India. But he had to take a plane back to London because of problems getting his visa approved. A British government spokesperson said that British citizens need to be treated fairly by the Indian government.

"The specifics of this case are a matter for Shoaib Bashir and the Indian Government. But we absolutely expect India to treat British citizens fairly at all times in its visa process. We have previously raised the issues British citizens with Pakistani heritage experience applying for visas with the Indian High Commission in London," the spokesperson was quoted as saying by ESPNcricinfo.

It was at England's preparatory camp in Abu Dhabi when Bashir's predicament became apparent. The off-spinner for Somerset did not receive his visa, hence he was unable to go with the team.

"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.

"As a leader, as a captain, when one of your teammates is affected by something like that, you get a bit emotional. I know he's back in London and a lot of people are jumping through hoops to try and get this through quicker. Hopefully, we're gonna see him here over the weekend. There was never a (realistic) chance that we were ever not going to travel around this but Bash knows he's had our full support."

Indian captain Rohit Sharma was not pleased with what transpired and was hopeful that Shoaib Bashir will be playing for England during the India tour soon. "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," Rohit said.