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England Spinners Face Visa Delilay Ahead of T20 World Cup in India

England spinners Adil Rashid and Rehan Ahmed are facing unexpected delays in obtaining visas for travel to India for the T20 World Cup. The issue may prevent them from joining the squad for warm-up games in Sri Lanka this weekend. The England and Wales Cricket Board is seeking assistance from the UK government to expedite the process, recalling a similar incident with Shoaib Bashir in 2024. Harry Brook will lead the team for the Sri Lanka tour and the subsequent World Cup campaign.

Key Points: England Spinners Rashid, Ahmed Face Visa Delay for T20 WC

  • Visa delays for England spinners
  • May miss warm-up games in Sri Lanka
  • ECB seeks UK government help
  • Echoes of 2024 Bashir incident
  • Harry Brook to lead Sri Lanka tour
2 min read

England spin duo Adil Rashid, Rehan Ahmed face visa delay for T20 WC in India

England spinners Adil Rashid and Rehan Ahmed face visa delays, jeopardizing their travel to India for the T20 World Cup warm-up matches.

"the ECB is confident that the visas will be issued in time - The Guardian"

London, Jan 15

England spinners Adil Rashid and Rehan Ahmed are reportedly facing unexpected delays in procuring visas for their travel to India for the T20 World Cup, starting from February 7.

The delay hampered the chances for the spin duo to travel with the rest of the squad this weekend for six warm-up games against Sri Lanka, and it is unclear when they will join their teammates. England will begin its T20 World Cup campaign on February 8, when they face Nepal in Navi Mumbai.

As per The Guardian report, the ECB is confident that the visas will be issued in time for Rashid and Ahmed. But the timing of visa clearance remains uncertain, and the ECB has sought assistance from the UK government to help expedite the process.

Notably in 2024, Shoaib Bashir was forced to fly home to resolve visa complications which prevented him from joining the England squad in India for the Test series, while the rest of the team travelled to Hyderabad.

England will play three ODIs and as many as T20Is in Sri Lanka, beginning January 22, in the lead-up to the T20 mega spectacle, with Harry Brook leading the side for the Sri Lanka tour and the subsequent T20 World Cup.

After their opener against Nepal at the Wankhede Stadium, England will take on two-time champions (2012 & 2016) the West Indies on February 11 at the same venue, before travelling to Kolkata for their clash against 2022 winners England at the iconic Eden Gardens on February 14. They will wrap up their group-stage campaign against Italy on February 16.

In the previous edition of the tournament, England were knocked out in the semifinal by eventual winners India.

England (Provisional Squad): Harry Brook (c), Rehan Ahmed, Jofra Archer, Tom Banton, Jacob Bethell, Jos Buttler, Sam Curran, Liam Dawson, Ben Duckett, Will Jacks, Jamie Overton, Adil Rashid, Phil Salt, Josh Tongue, Luke Wood

- IANS

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Reader Comments

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Priya S
Adil Rashid is a key player for them. Without him, their spin attack looks weak. ECB should have applied much earlier. Last-minute rush always causes problems. Hope they don't miss the warm-up matches, that's crucial preparation for Indian conditions.
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Aman W
Honestly, our bureaucracy can be a headache sometimes. We're hosting a World Cup, we should roll out the red carpet for players, not red tape. It doesn't look good on the global stage. Just my two cents.
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Sarah B
As someone living abroad, I know visa processes are complex everywhere. But for a scheduled tournament, the cricket boards and our authorities need better coordination. The focus should be on the game, not paperwork delays.
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Karthik V
They'll get it in time, I'm sure. The system works, just sometimes a bit slow. More worried about our own team's preparation! England is a strong side, with or without a couple of players for warm-ups. Can't wait for the tournament to begin!
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Nisha Z
Feel bad for Rehan Ahmed, he's a young talent. Missing practice in Sri Lanka would be a big setback. Hope the UK government's involvement speeds things up. The article says ECB is confident, so let's hope for the best.

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