Breaking News: England Star Shoaib Faces Delay in India Debut

England bowler Shoaib Bashir, hailing from Pakistani heritage, faces a delay in his arrival in India for the upcoming five-match test series due to visa issues, as confirmed by head coach Brendon McCullum on Monday.

Bashir, one of three uncapped players selected for the England squad in the upcoming series starting in Hyderabad on Thursday, is currently dealing with visa complications. McCullum expressed confidence that with assistance from the Indian cricket board and the Indian government, the visa matters will be resolved promptly.

McCullum informed reporters, "He’s encountering a couple of issues with his visa coming through… we’re optimistic, with the support from the Indian cricket board and the Indian government, that it will be sorted out pretty quickly as well".

Individuals of Pakistani origin are required to provide additional details when applying for an Indian visa, according to information on the website of the Indian High Commission in London.

Visa related challenges have affected other cricket players in the past. In February, Australian batter Usman Khawaja experienced delays in his arrival in India due to visa issues. Additionally, in September, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) raised concerns with the International Cricket Council (ICC) about visa delays for the Pakistan team before the 50-over World Cup in India.

McCullum expressed hope that the 20-year-old spinner, Shoaib Bashir, would join the rest of the team on Tuesday. “We’re anticipating receiving news today that his visa has been approved, and then we’ll have him fully engaged in this series,” he added.