Middlesex, a first-division side in England's County Championship, has expressed disappointment over Indian off-spinner Jayant Yadav's absence from the team due to delays in his UK visa approval. The 33-year-old cricketer was slated to participate in the last four matches of the red-ball campaign but was conspicuously absent as Middlesex began their game against Essex in Chelmsford on September 4.
"Middlesex Cricket is extremely disappointed to announce that Jayant Yadav, who was scheduled to be making his debut for the Club today, has been unable to travel to the UK due to a delay in the issuing of his work visa," Middlesex said in a statement.
"The Club paid to expedite the application of Yadav's visa and received confirmation from the UK Visa and Immigration Office on Friday 1st September that everything had been approved and issued. The British Embassy however, in Delhi, did not release his travel documentation in time for the player to board the plane he was booked onto over the weekend.
"We are extremely disappointed with the delay in Yadav's passport being returned, which has led to him being withdrawn from the squad for this week's match," it added.
Jayant Yadav's contract and career milestones
Jayant Yadav was contracted to play against Essex, Lancashire, Warwickshire, and Nottinghamshire, which was to be a significant milestone in his career. The County stint was particularly crucial for him, considering he needed match practice after playing in the Duleep Trophy and a lone match for Gujarat Titans in the IPL earlier this year. Middlesex confirmed that despite their best efforts to expedite Yadav's visa process, he was withdrawn from the squad for the current week's game against Essex.
Jayant Yadav's journey in international cricket
Making his debut for India on November 17, 2016, Jayant Yadav became the 286th Test player for the country, with Moeen Ali being his debut wicket. To date, he has played six Test matches for India, taking 16 wickets at an average of 29.06. His career-best figures of 4 for 49 came against New Zealand in December 2021. His most memorable Test performance was scoring 104 runs and adding 241 with then-captain Virat Kohli against England in the 2016-17 series.
In addition to his achievements in Test cricket, Yadav has also represented India in two ODIs, picking up a single wicket. His first-class career is quite impressive as well, with 205 wickets under his belt. His best bowling figures to date are 7 for 58, achieved while playing for Haryana in the Ranji Trophy during the 2019-20 season.
Implications for Middlesex and Jayant Yadav
The visa delay is a setback not just for Middlesex but also for Yadav, who was looking forward to gaining more experience and showcasing his talent in the County Championship. As both the player and the team work to resolve the visa issues, fans and cricketing pundits alike will be keen to see if he can join Middlesex later in the season.
Keep an eye on this space for more updates on Jayant Yadav's UK visa situation and its impact on Middlesex's County Championship campaign.
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