20-year-old Shoaib Bashir has made headlines even before making his Test debut. Bashir is yet to arrive in India due to visa delay which led to him flying back to London from UAE instead of India. While his parents’ Pakistan origin has been highlighted, former Indian pacer Venkatesh Prasad has lashed out at English daily ‘The Telegraph’ for suggesting that the Ben Stokes-led side should boycott the first Test in Hyderabad which is scheduled to start on January 25.
“His visa needed to be stamped in the UK. The ECB sent Shoaib Bashir to the UAE, thinking it would be stamped in a third country,” he wrote on X.
“Not following basic procedures, assuming things and then crying foul is an old English way.
“If anyone, it is the ECB at fault.”
Earlier in the day, England captain Ben Stokes in the pre-match press conference revealed that they considered the idea of not flying to India until Bashir's visa problems were resolved.
“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,” the all-rounder said.
“I know it’s a way bigger thing, doing that. That was probably just (my) emotions around the whole thing. There was never a chance that we were not going to travel around this but Bash knows he’s had our full support.
“I’m pretty devastated that Bash has had to go through this. As a leader, as a captain, when one of your team-mates is affected by something like that you do 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 going to see him here over the weekend.”
Indian skipper Rohit Sharma too sympathised with the youngster as he was in line to make his Test debut.
“I feel for him honestly,” said Sharma.
“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 plays some cricket as well.
“It’s not easy for anyone, it could be one of our guys wanting to come to England and being denied.”
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