England wait on Rehan Ahmed availability for third Test after visa issues resurface

Vithushan Ehantharajah12-Feb-2024 • Updated 18 minutes in the past

England are awaiting affirmation that Rehan Ahmed shall be accessible to play within the third Test of their sequence in India this week, after the ECB conceded {that a} “paperwork discrepancy” prompted a hold-up at Rajkot Airport that was solely resolved by the issuance of a short lived visa.

Rehan was initially prohibited from re-entering India on Monday night after England’s mid-series break in Abu Dhabi as a result of he solely held a single-entry visa. After a delay, native authorities arrived at a short-term resolution which allowed him to journey to the staff’s lodge with the remainder of the touring celebration.

“We were advised, on returning to India, that there was paperwork discrepancy with Rehan Ahmed’s visa,” an ECB spokesperson stated on Tuesday. “The local authorities at Rajkot Airport were supportive, enabling Rehan entry on a temporary visa. The correct visa should be processed and issued in the coming days.”

Rehan, the legspinning allrounder, educated along with his team-mates on the Saurashtra Cricket Association Stadium on Tuesday and is predicted to obtain clearance to stay in India shortly. He seems set to retain his place in England’s staff for the third Test, which begins on Thursday, after taking six wickets within the second.

The challenge comes weeks after Shoaib Bashir’s arrival in India was delayed by per week due to the late issuing of his visa, which resulted in him lacking the primary Test in Hyderabad.

Bashir, who has Pakistani heritage, ultimately arrived on January 28 – the fourth day of the primary Test – having initially remained in Abu Dhabi, the place England had their pre-tour coaching camp, earlier than returning to the UK to get his visa stamped. He went on to make his debut within the second Test at Visakhapatnam.

Like Bashir, Rehan was born in England and has Pakistani heritage, however he had no preliminary hassle getting into the nation due to a visa he had secured in October as a standby participant for England’s World Cup squad. His delay, seemingly the results of a clerical oversight by the ECB, is an issue that ought to not have arisen.

Ollie Robinson, who’s but to characteristic within the sequence, revealed earlier on Monday that he solely obtained his visa on the morning that England initially flew to Hyderabad from Abu Dhabi final month, having heard the earlier evening from staff supervisor Wayne Bentley that one other paperwork error had triggered a delay.

“He [Bentley] said, ‘your visa has been denied’ or something,” Robinson stated on his podcast, Chatting Balls. “There was an error at the ECB – I think they must have just put an initial wrong, or one letter must have been wrong. It didn’t pass. He was like, ‘you’re not coming to India – you have to stay here for another night… it could be two nights, could be three nights, don’t know how long it’s going to take.’ Luckily, I woke up in the morning to a nice message from Wayne saying ‘visa’s here’.”

Ollie Pope, England’s vice-captain, described Rehan’s scenario as “very frustrating” on Tuesday. “I’m not sure whose mistake it was. I don’t want to name any names,” Pope stated. “It’s very irritating, however hopefully [it] will all be sorted by the top of the day, he is cleared for the following recreation and the remainder of the journey. It’s a little bit of unhealthy luck, however hopefully all sorted.

“It sounds fairly constructive. I feel we’re getting round Rehan. He’s in good spirits. He was coaching at the moment. I feel it was sorted pretty rapidly yesterday, however clearly it is all going on behind the scenes and hopefully it’s going to all be sorted inside the subsequent day or so. He’s in good spirits, the boys are getting round him and he is simply joyful to be out right here coaching.”

1230 GMT, Tuesday – This story was up to date to incorporate the ECB’s assertion and Pope’s feedback.