England Cricketer’s Visa Issues For India Tour Prompt British Government To Call For Fair Treatment – News18

An England cricketer’s issues acquiring a visa for the crew’s check collection in India have prompted the British authorities to name for truthful remedy for any of its residents searching for to enter the Asian nation.

Shoaib Bashir, a 20-yr-previous British Muslim of Pakistani heritage, was the one member of England’s touring celebration to expertise a major delay over his visa utility.

Instead of flying to India with the remainder of his teammates from Abu Dhabi, the place England held a pre-collection coaching camp, Bashir needed to fly again to London and current his passport in particular person in an effort to get the proper approval on the Indian embassy.

Bashir lastly obtained his visa on Wednesday and is because of be part of up with the crew in India this weekend, the England and Wales Cricket Board stated.

“We’re glad the situation has been resolved,” the ECB stated.

England captain Ben Stokes stated his preliminary response was to refuse to journey to India till Bashir’s case was sorted, earlier than rapidly backing down due to the ramifications such a call would have.

The British authorities additionally reacted, saying “we absolutely expect India to treat British citizens fairly at all times in its visa process.”

Without eager to touch upon the specifics of Bashir’s case, a authorities assertion stated: “We have previously raised the issues British citizens with Pakistani heritage experience applying for visas with the Indian High Commission in London.”

Political tensions between India and Pakistan have usually spilled over into cricket, the place the 2 neighboring international locations have a longstanding rivalry.

The visa points meant that Bashir, who’s on his first worldwide tour with England, was dominated out of competition for the primary check beginning in Hyderabad on Thursday.

“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,” Stokes stated Wednesday, earlier than Bashir obtained his visa.

“I know it’s a way bigger thing, doing that. That was probably just 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.”

Stokes stated he was “pretty devastated” that Bashir has skilled these problems.

“As a leader, as a captain, when one of your teammates is affected by something like that you do get a bit emotional,” he stated.

India captain Rohit Sharma expressed sympathy for Bashir.

“I feel for him honestly,” stated 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 play some cricket as well.”

English participant Saqib Mahmood, whose dad and mom are from Pakistan, needed to be withdrawn from England Lions’ tour of India in 2019 after related delays.

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AP cricket: https://apnews.com/hub/cricket

(This story has not been edited by News18 workers and is printed from a syndicated information company feed – Associated Press)