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Source: @Sports_Himanshu X
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In the next limited-overs matches against India, Saqib Mahmood is anticipated to be a crucial member of the England team. As England's fast-bowling consultant, the renowned James Anderson will lead the training camp. Notably, Saqib Mahmood, an England pacer of Pakistani descent, has had trouble obtaining a visa for the forthcoming white-ball series against India, which is set to begin on January 22.
The ECB anticipates that the problem will be settled before the rest of the team departs for Kolkata on Friday, January 18, to play the opening Twenty20 International in a five-match series that begins next week. Saqib is not the only Pakistani-born English player who has dealt with this problem.
Saqib Mahmood's India Tour in Jeopardy Due:
Saqib Mahmood visa delayed for India tour due to his Pakistan heritage. 🤯
— Himanshu Pareek (@Sports_Himanshu) January 14, 2025
Fast bowler forced to miss training camp in Abu Dhabi. 🚨 pic.twitter.com/wLsCuTwg4D
A delay in obtaining his visa prevented Shoaib Bashir from playing in the first Test match between India and England in Hyderabad last year. Although the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has not commented on the situation, they anticipate that it will be settled before the team departs for Kolkata on Friday, January 18, in preparation for the Twenty20 International series. In addition to Mahmood, James Anderson will lead England's speed group as they set up camp, which will include Jofra Archer, Mark Wood, Gus Atkinson, and Brydon Carse.
By the way, Mahmood had a similar experience six years prior when he was dropped from an England Lions team that was going to tour India due to visa problems. Anticipating a similar result, he chose not to seek a visa prior to Lancashire's 2024 preseason trip.
In the forthcoming international series, England and India will face off in a white-ball format that consists of three ODIs and five T20Is. The teams will travel to Chennai for the second Twenty20 International after the first one, which is set to begin on January 22, in Kolkata. Three ODIs will be played at Nagpur, Cuttack, and Ahmedabad, respectively, after a T20I match each in Rajkot, Pune, and Mumbai.
Watch this space for more cricket news.
