Ben Stokes revealed on Wednesday that the team had briefly considered not travelling to India without Shoaib Bashir though the England captain accepted it was more out of emotion towards their young off-spinner.
Stokes’ outburst came in Abu Dhabi during England’s pre-tour conditioning camp after Bashir did not receive his visa for his first Test tour. It was learnt that Bashir has since travelled to London to get his visa — which has now been approved — stamped into his passport at the Indian High Commission.
The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) had thought they could get it stamped in a third country like the rest of the members of the contingent. Bashir, a British passport holder, was born and brought up in Surrey but has faced problems with his visa because of his Pakistani heritage.
“When I first found the news out in Abu Dhabi, I did say we shouldn’t fly until Bash gets his visa,” Stokes said. “But that was a little bit tongue in cheek. I know it’s a way bigger thing than doing that. As a leader, as a captain, when one of your teammates is affected by something like that, you get a bit emotional.”
Players of Pakistani origin have faced similar problems in the past. Indian government sources said there is a process in place and in line with that, clearance was received earlier this week. “Since he has submitted his passport today, his visa was issued,” a source said.
