Indian captain Rohit Sharma showed compassion towards England spinner Shoaib Bashir, who is set to miss the first Test due to unresolved visa issues.
“I feel for Shoaib Bashir - Unfortunately, I don't sit in the Visa office to give you more details, but I hope he gets it quickly & enjoys our country,” the Indian skipper said in a presser.
Bashir was the only one left behind from the English team and may join up with the squad ahead of the second Test against India if the visa issues are resolved.
Ben Stokes earlier expressed his frustration with Bashir’s exclusion and said he was “devastated” by the news. “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,” the English skipper said ahead of the game in Hyderabad.
While Bashir is expected to get the stamp of approval from Indian High Commission in London, the turn of events left Stokes a tad irked.
"As captain, I find it particularly frustrating. We announced the squad in mid-December and now 'Bash' finds himself without a visa to get here. He's not the first cricketer to go through this.
"I have played with a lot of people who have had the same issues," Stokes said.
Shoaib Bashir returns to UK after visa delay rules him out of first Test | IND vs ENG