IND vs ENG: England Spinner Shoaib Bashir Rejoins Squad In Hyderabad After Visa Delays

Uncapped England spinner Shoaib Bashir, of Pakistani origin, has successfully arrived in India after facing initial visa problems.

Shoaib Bashir initially faced issues with and Indian visa which prompted him to return to the UK to get things resolved.

Source : Getty

Uncapped England spinner Shoaib Bashir, of Pakistani heritage, has overcome visa issues and has finally arrived in India. Bashir, 20, missed the first Test in Hyderabad but will now be in contention for the second game of the five-match India vs England  series, set to take place in Visakhapatnam from February 2 (Friday). In the first IND vs ENG Test in Hyderabad, England defeated the hosts by 28 runs after Ollie Pope’s scintillating innings of 196 runs and debutant Tom Hartley’s seven-wicket haul on January 28 (Sunday).

Bashir was recently spotted in the dugout during the first Test against India at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Hyderabad. A viral picture on social media shows Bashir helping his team with throwdowns for slip catching practise. However, it is important to note that ABP Live couldn't verify the credibility of the picture. Shoaib Bashir, who missed the first Test, is now set to be in contention for the second match of the IND vs ENG series. This is particularly significant as senior England spinner Jack Leach sustained a knee injury during the series opener, potentially opening up an opportunity for Bashir to make his debut in the playing XI.

Here's The Viral Picture Of Shoaib Bashir:

England have put Shoaib Bashir straight to work helping the slippers pic.twitter.com/akpHXcNRMX

— Will Macpherson (@willis_macp) January 28, 2024

Shoaib Bashir's Visa Troubles

The 20-year-old off-spinner faced challenges in obtaining his visa for India. Initially stranded in Abu Dhabi, he had to return to the United Kingdom to resolve his visa struggles. However, a day before the series commenced, it was announced that Bashir had successfully obtained his visa and would join the England squad over the weekend.

England captain Ben Stokes had expressed agitation for Bashir on the eve of the match, conveying his frustration about the situation. Stokes mentioned, "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 get a bit emotional. It’s obviously a frustrating situation, more importantly, for him."