England cricketer Shoaib Bashir, a 20-year-old British Muslim of Pakistani heritage, has had to fly back home to address visa complications, preventing him from joining the Test series in India. While the rest of the England team has traveled to Hyderabad for the first Test starting Thursday, Bashir faced a significant delay in his visa application and remained in the England training camp in Abu Dhabi.
Concerns over the equity of India’s visa procedures were raised by an England cricket team representative, particularly with regard to British nationals descended from Pakistan. The England team is frustrated by the current state of affairs, as Captain Ben Stokes put it: “I’m devastated for him.” It’s a frustrating situation to be in, but a lot of people have been trying to get it through.”
About Shoaib Bashir: Born on October 13, 2003, in Surrey’s Chertsey, Shoaib Bashir is a right-handed batsman and right-arm off-break bowler. Making his debut for Somerset in June 2023, he earned a contract for the 2023 season after an impressive performance in Second-XI fixtures. Bashir received his maiden call-up to the senior England side in December 2023 and was included in the 16-man squad for the Test tour of India.
