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The conundrum over the last two T20Is between India and West Indies is finally over as both the teams have got the approval for United States' visas for the remainder of the series which is set to take place in Florida this weekend (August 6 and 7).
As per the latest development reported by Cricbuzz late on Wednesday night, it was revealed that now all the members of India and West Indies team have been officially cleared to travel to the US, courtesy to the intervention of the Guyana government.
It required the efforts of Irfan Ali, the President of Guyana, to get the travel approvals. "It was a timely and influential diplomatic effort by His Excellency," Ricky Skerritt, the president of Cricket West Indies (CWI), said while thanking the head of the Guyana government.
As earlier reported, those without the visas were flown to Georgetown in Guyana after the third T20I in St Kitts on Tuesday (August 2) night for interviews at the US Embassy. Among those who attended the interviews were India skipper Rohit Sharma and head coach Rahul Dravid. There were, in fact, 14 of them from the Indian touring party who did not have the travel approvals.
Others, including Ravindra Jadeja, Ravichandran Ashwin, Dinesh Karthik, Ravi Bishnoi, Suryakumar Yadav and Kuldeep Yadav, have reached Miami meanwhile. They will be joined by the rest of the teammates on Thursday night.
"They can fly only tomorrow (Thursday) afternoon. All Visa applications have been approved but passports are not to be returned until this afternoon," Skerritt said, revealing the reason for the delayed travel. "All that the CWI could do has been done. Last night's charter to Miami, for those previously with visas, was at greater financial risk to delay it than to operate it as previously planned," Skerritt added.
In another major development from the Indian camp, it was reported that Indian skipper Rohit will be available for selection in the last two matches. The 35-year-old opening batter retired hurt during the third T20I on Tuesday and BCCI later said that he suffered a back spasm. But now he seems to have recovered from it and thus will be back to lead India.
