The scenario was slammed by former England captain Michael Vaughan, who labelled the failure “completely outrageous” and stated the authorities had robbed the uncapped bowler of a particular second in a possible debut in India.
“I believe it’s outrageous, I truthfully do,” Vaughan instructed Telegraph Sport’s Vaughany and Tuffers Cricket Membership podcast.
“The squad was introduced on December 11. It is a younger man who’s been picked for his nation for the primary time, he’s performed slightly little bit of cricket for Somerset, he’s an thrilling expertise. He goes to Abu Dhabi on the proviso that he’s going to do 10 days’ preparation, he will get on a aircraft and he’s going to go to India doubtlessly to play his first Take a look at in Hyderabad.
“He bowls properly in Abu Dhabi, after which the day the aircraft’s leaving to go to India he’s instructed ‘sorry, you’ll be able to’t get on’. He has no concept that that is going to be the case whereas he’s in Abu Dhabi coaching and making ready, impressing the England administration. Whispers are that he’s impressed a lot that he had an opportunity of enjoying within the first Take a look at – I don’t know whether or not that’s proper or mistaken – however I believe it’s completely outrageous.
“You’ve bought this younger man who now has to fly again to the UK to type it out. What’s that doing to the younger child? I simply assume it’s completely outrageous {that a} younger participant has gone via that and he’s gone to Abu Dhabi and he sees a gaggle of team-mates getting on a aircraft and he can’t get on the aircraft with them. Insanity.”
Ben Stokes, England’s captain, sympathised deeply with Bashir and regretted that this was his first style of life with the Take a look at aspect.
“Particularly as captain I discover it significantly irritating. We introduced that squad in mid-December, and now Bash finds himself with out a visa to get right here,” Stokes stated.
“I really feel for him. However he’s not the primary cricketer to undergo this, I’ve performed with lots of people who’ve had the identical points. I discover it irritating that we have now picked a participant and he’s not with us due to visa points. Particularly for a younger lad, I’m devastated for him.”
Bashir is the one member of England’s touring get together – together with travelling officers and media – who has had vital hassle securing a visa, however different cricketers with Pakistani backgrounds have had hassle coming into India up to now. Forward of final yr’s Australia tour, Usman Khawaja, who was born in Islamabad, was made to attend for his paperwork, whereas the Pakistan nationwide staff had been additionally delayed coming into the nation for the 2023 World Cup.
In contrast, Dan Lawrence, a late call-up to the England squad after Harry Brook returned house for private causes, has breezed into the nation at quick discover.
Rehan Ahmed, the opposite England participant with Pakistani heritage, managed to safe a visa earlier than the Take a look at squad was named, as a result of he had present documentation after being on standby for final yr’s World Cup.
Brendon McCullum, the top coach, optimistically stated on Monday that England had been assured that “with assist from the BCCI [Board of Control for Cricket in India] and the Indian authorities that it’s going to type itself out fairly shortly”. McCullum’s confidence might have come from the truth that Jay Shah, who runs Indian cricket because the honorary secretary of the BCCI, is the son of the minister of house affairs Amit Shah.
Bashir was at all times a protracted shot to function within the first Take a look at, having performed simply six first-class matches, however made a significant impression on the camp in Abu Dhabi. With out him, England might want to determine what number of of their remaining spinners to play. Jack Leach is for certain to be joined by Joe Root, with the uncapped Tom Hartley and Ahmed competing for the ultimate spot, except the pitch dries out significantly earlier than the toss.
Stokes confirmed that Ben Foakes would regain the gloves from Jonny Bairstow, who strikes again to No 5, the slot Brook has made his personal in current occasions.
“He [Foakes] cannot solely do issues different keepers can’t but additionally make them look extremely straightforward,” Stokes stated. “So having somebody like that behind the sticks is beneficial, particularly if we do discover ourselves in situations the place the ball is spinning. He’s a really particular expertise behind there and having somebody like that may perhaps take a two per cent, three per cent probability that may very well be large within the collection.”