England’s Rehan Ahmed, who is of Pakistani origin, became the latest victim of visa issues in India for Pakistan-origin players after his team-mate Shoaib Bashir also faced a similar issue earlier in the series.
Rehan Ahmed, was traveling to Rajkot for the third Test against India, however, he faced a two-hour delay at Rajkot Airport on Monday, adding another layer of complexity to England’s ongoing tour.
Rehan Ahmed’s ordeal stemmed from a paperwork discrepancy with his single-entry visa obtained for the mid-series break in Abu Dhabi.
Update: England spinner Rehan Ahmed stopped from exiting the Hirasar airport in Rajkot, India due to visa issues 🏴🤯
He's also Pakistani background cricketer. Padosiyo, what's this attitude? First Shoaib Bashir and now Rehan 🇮🇳👎🏼👎🏼 #INDvsENG pic.twitter.com/vTrGWUmpci
— Farid Khan (@_FaridKhan) February 12, 2024
Upon attempting to re-enter India, Rehan Ahmed was temporarily stopped at Rajkot Airport, leading to concerns about his participation in the upcoming Test match.
Fortunately, local authorities intervened, granting Ahmed entry on a temporary visa while the correct paperwork is processed.
Another Visa Issue created by India for Rehan Ahmed 😡😡 pic.twitter.com/S7Opqm2Oh2
— ٰImran Siddique (@imransiddique89) February 12, 2024
The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) issued a statement acknowledging the situation, expressing gratitude for the support received from Rajkot Airport authorities.
They reassured fans that Ahmed’s visa issue would be resolved within the next 24 hours, allowing him to join the squad for preparations ahead of the crucial Test.
Rehan Ahmed the latest England player to encounter visa difficulties in India – although he has been granted an emergency two-day stay and England hope the situation is cleared up before the third Test pic.twitter.com/UbdlBhf1lV
— David Charlesworth (@charlie_4444) February 13, 2024
This incident bears striking resemblance to Shoaib Bashir’s visa troubles, which delayed his arrival in India by a week, causing him to miss the first Test in Hyderabad.
Bashir, also of Pakistani heritage, finally made his debut in the second Test at Visakhapatnam after navigating through bureaucratic hurdles and travel disruptions.
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