Bashir returns to UK to resolve visa issues

The 20-year-old uncapped player, of Pakistani origin, was initially left behind in Abu Dhabi when the rest of the squad traveled on Sunday.

< p class= "" data-reactid=".kp5uzwsue2.0.0.0.1.$paragraph-3">The Somerset off-spinner has not yet received the visa and will not be in India until at least the weekend.

Bashir will miss the first Test in Hyderabad, which begins on Thursday.

"I find it particularly frustrating," England captain Ben Stokes said. "We announced the team in mid-December, and now Bash finds himself without a visa to come here.

"I'm more frustrated for him. I didn't want this type of situation to be his first experience of what it's like to be in the England Test team. I feel for him."

India have not played bilateral cricket against Pakistan since 2013 due to political tensions between the two countries.

Bashir, a surprise inclusion in the Test squad England having played just six first-class matches, is not the first cricketer with links to Pakistan to struggle to gain access to India.

Australian opener Usman Khawaja, who was born in Pakistan, saw his arrival for a Test tour last year delayed, while all Pakistan's team for last year's World Cup in India faced similar delays.

BBC Test Match special commentator Aatif Nawaz, whose family is from Pakistan, also faced delays in obtaining a visa for the Cup of the world and was ultimately unable to make it to the tournament.

Bashir's English compatriot, Rehan Ahmed , is also of Pakistani origin, but has a visa withheld from last year while he acted as a reserve for the World Cup squad.

"He's not the first cricketer to experience this, I've played with a lot of people who have had the same issues," Stokes added. /p>

"I find it frustrating that we picked a player and he's not with us due to issues visa. Especially for a young boy. I'm devastated for him.

"It's a frustrating situation, but many people have tried to pass it off. It's unhappy and I'm very frustrated for him."

A spokesperson for Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said that The government expects British citizens to be treated fairly by Indian visa processes.

" I cannot speak to the specifics of this case. But more generally, we have raised such issues with the Office of the High Commissioner before. We have made it clear that we expect India to treat British citizens fairly at all times in its visa processes," the spokesperson said.

"We have already discussed the problems faced by British citizens of Pakistani origin. We have raised the issues regarding their visa application experience with the Indian High Commissioner in London."

In Bashir's absence, England are considering taking all three available front-row players on what appears to be a dry surface in Hyderabad.

The in-form Jack Leach could be joined by Ahmed, the leg-spinner, and Tom Hartley, the uncapped Lancashire left-armer.