Shoaib Bashir’s India Test Debut Deferred due to Visa Delay, Tom Hartley in Contention

Shoaib Bashir, the 20-year-old off-spinner from Somerset, has had his debut in the first Test against India postponed after encountering a visa delay. Bashir, a rookie on his first senior England tour, was unable to travel with the team to India due to the delay, similar to experiences faced by cricketers of Pakistani heritage in the past, including Moeen Ali and Saqib Mahmood.

Despite England’s expectations of resolving the visa issue in time for Bashir to join the squad, the problem persisted, forcing the young spinner to fly back to the UK. His revised target for arrival in India is now set for the weekend. Ben Stokes, expressing frustration as the team captain, remarked on the unfortunate situation, emphasizing that Bashir’s debut experience should not involve such visa-related challenges.

With Bashir ruled out, Lancashire’s Tom Hartley is now in contention to make his Test debut, potentially operating as a second left-arm spinner alongside Jack Leach. Ben Foakes is set to return as the team’s wicketkeeper, with Jonny Bairstow playing as a specialist batter at No 5 due to the absence of Harry Brook, who has returned home for personal reasons.

Despite the evident frustration within the England camp, the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has refrained from public criticism. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has been actively lobbying authorities to expedite the visa process, but despite strong links to India’s ruling BJP party, the governing body has faced challenges in fast-tracking the resolution.

In broader terms, Downing Street emphasized the expectation for fair treatment of British citizens, including those with Pakistani heritage, in India’s visa processes. The British government has previously raised concerns about the experiences of British citizens with Pakistani heritage in applying for visas with the Indian High Commission in London.