England’s cricket team encountered further visa troubles during their tour of India as Rehan Ahmed, a leg-spinner, was stopped from leaving Hirasar airport in Rajkot due to insufficient paperwork.
Reported by Sportstar on Monday, Rehan was unable to re-enter India after the team’s mid-series break in Abu Dhabi because he only held a single-entry visa. Local authorities intervened and provided a temporary solution, with England hopeful that the issue will be fully resolved within the next 24 hours. Despite the setback, all team members and support staff were safely at the team hotel in Rajkot by Monday evening.
In a statement on Tuesday morning, the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) acknowledged the visa discrepancy and praised the support from local authorities at Rajkot Airport, enabling Rehan’s entry on a temporary visa. The ECB assured that the correct visa would be processed and issued soon, allowing Rehan to continue preparations with the squad for the third Test.
This incident follows similar visa troubles faced by Shoaib Bashir, whose arrival in India was delayed by a week due to visa issuance issues, causing him to miss the first Test in Hyderabad. Rehan, like Bashir, was born in England with Pakistani heritage.
The BCCI confirmed that Rehan was allowed to enter the country with the rest of the team and would participate in practice on Tuesday. However, this situation highlights administrative oversights within the ECB, especially given the attention drawn by Bashir’s visa ordeal.
Despite these challenges, England’s cricket team remains focused on the upcoming third Test, aiming to address administrative issues swiftly and concentrate on the cricket ahead.
