England cricketer of Pakistani origin banned from India, Jos Buttler-led team’s plans disrupted
England cricket manager Saqib Mahmood has found himself in the middle of nowhere ahead of the white ball tour of India. The fast bowler is yet to get a visa to travel with the team for the five-match T20I series and three-match ODI series in India.
Saqib Mahmood’s flight was even canceled by the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) because his passport was in the Indian embassy. The pacer was stranded in England with only a week left until the tour, and the other members are in Abu Dhabi.
Saqib Mahmood unable to join ECB bowling camp in UAE ahead of India tour
The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) is going through a bowling camp in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) ahead of the tour of India to acclimatise to the conditions. Pacers Gus Atkinson, Brydon Carse, Mark Wood and Jofra Archer worked there under the mentorship of James Anderson.
But according to reports in the Daily Mail, Saqib Mahmood could not even go to the UAE and was unable to train due to the icy conditions in England. The Jos Buttler-led team is all set to leave for India on Friday, January 17, but the fast bowler may have to wait a while.
Saqib Mahmood was earlier denied entry to India due to the same visa issues
Saqib Mahmood’s participation in India tour due to visa issue has come under scanner. The fast bowler is still waiting for the issue to be resolved. The ECB has not said anything on the matter so far and is working with the BCCI to ensure that the pacer gets a visa.
This, however, is not the first time that Saqib Mahmood has been denied entry into India. He was denied a visa during last year’s Lancashire tour and also faced similar problems in 2019 as he was unable to travel with the Lions squad for the subcontinental tour.
Saqib Mahmood, an English player of Pakistani origin, has joined Shoaib Bashir and Rehan Ahmed in the list of English players who have had problems getting visas. Both players faced similar problems ahead of the five-match Test series against India in early 2024.
Saqib Mahmood’s absence will be a big blow for England for the tour of India
Bashir was stuck in the UAE due to visa issues, and as a result missed the first match of the series in Hyderabad. On the other hand, Rehan Ahmed was not allowed to return and was found to be on a single entry visa only.
If Saqib Mahmood fails to get his visa in time and misses the series, it will be a big blow for the Jos Buttler-led team. He was the player of the series during the T20I series against West Indies as he took 9 wickets in three matches to help his team win.
