CRICKET – Spinner Shoaib Bashir has been ruled out of England’s opening Test against India following a visa delay, now resolved, an episode that has marred the buildup to the five-match series between the sides beginning in Hyderabad today.
Bashir, who is of Pakistani heritage, returned to London from Abu Dhabi, where England trained before arriving in India, and will now join the squad this weekend after his visa issue was resolved yesterday.
“Shoaib Bashir has now received his visa, and is due to travel to join up with the team in India this weekend,” England’s cricket board (ECB) said on social media platform X.
“We’re glad the situation has now been resolved.”
Earlier, Stokes did not hide his disappointment in his pre-match Press conference but said they never seriously considered boycotting the match over the treatment meted out to the Somerset spinner.
“I’m pretty devastated that Bash has had to go through this,” Stokes said.
“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.”
Lancashire’s Tom Hartley is set to make his Test debut in Hyderabad after Stokes announced a spin-heavy attack also including fellow left-armer Jack Leach and teenage leg-spinner Rehan Ahmed with Joe Root as the fourth option.
James Anderson has been left out with Mark Wood as the only frontline fast bowler for what England expect to be a spin-dominated contest.
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