England’s spinner Shoaib Bashir had to return home after being denied entry to India for the series due to visa issues. Consequently, the uncapped cricketer has been excluded from the first India vs England Test in Hyderabad scheduled to start on January 25 (Thursday). The incident has generated considerable attention in the cricketing community, and interestingly, it appears to be taking on a political dimension. According to a report, a spokesperson for the UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has responded to the situation, seemingly giving a message to Indian authorities.

Shoaib Bashir, a 20-year-old British Muslim of Pakistani heritage, initially experienced substantial delays in acquiring his visa, making him the only member of the England touring party facing such challenges. While his teammates proceeded to Hyderabad for the first test after a training camp in Abu Dhabi, Bashir remained there for his visa complications to sort out.

Rishi Sunak’s Spokesperson Reacts

A spokesperson for UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak emphasised the government’s expectation that British citizens are treated fairly in India’s visa processes. The spokesperson acknowledged that previous concerns, particularly regarding British citizens with Pakistani heritage, have been raised with the Indian High Commission in London.

“I can’t speak to the specifics of this case. But more broadly we have previously raised issues of this kind with the High Commission. We have been clear that we expect India to treat British citizens fairly at all times in its visa processes. We have previously raised the issues British citizens with Pakistani heritage have experienced. We’ve raised the issues about their experience of applying for visas with the Indian High Commissioner in London,” said the spokesperson as per a BBC report.

Earlier, the England cricket team captain, Ben Stokes also expressed his frustration for Bashir, emphasising that the squad for the India series was announced in mid-December. Stokes empathised with Bashir, stating that he didn’t want such a situation to be the young cricketer’s first experience with the England Test team. 

‘I Feel For Him’

“Especially as captain I find it particularly frustrating. We announced that squad in mid-December, and now Bash finds himself without a visa to get here. I am more frustrated for him. I didn’t want this type of situation to be his first experience of what it’s like to be in the England Test team. I feel for him,” said Stokes as quoted by ESPN Cricinfo.