England started their Test preparations in Hyderabad without Shoaib Bashir due to visa issues that have left him stranded in the UAE. The Somerset offspinner, who is of Pakistani heritage, was unable to travel with the rest of the squad after a delay in his paperwork. However, the ECB is working on resolving the issue and is hopeful for a positive outcome within the next 24 hours.
Despite the potential two-day delay in his arrival, England’s head coach, Brendon McCullum, assured that Bashir will still be available for selection in the opening Test. Bashir, 20, was selected for the squad based on potential rather than performance, but he has impressed with his skills on Lions duty and in the UAE.
McCullum expressed confidence that the visa issue will be resolved quickly with the support of the BCCI and the Indian government. He also noted that Bashir had seamlessly fit in with the squad during their time in Abu Dhabi and is hopeful for a swift resolution to the situation.