Pakistan-origin England cricketer denied entry to India, Jos Buttler-led team's plans disrupted

England National Cricket Team pacer Saqib Mahmood has found himself in the middle of nowhere ahead of the white-ball tour of India. The fast bowler is yet to get the visa to travel along with the team for the five-match T20I and three-match ODI series in India.

Saqib Mahmood's flight was even canceled by the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) due to his passport being with the Indian embassy. The pacer has been left stranded in England with only a week remaining for the tour and other members being in Abu Dhabi.

Saqib Mahmood unable to join ECB's pace bowling camp in the United Arab Emirates ahead of the India tour

The England and the Wales Cricket Board (ECB) is undergoing a pace bowling camp in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) ahead of the India tour to get used to conditions. Pacers Gus Atkinson, Brydon Carse, Mark Wood, and Jofra Archer have been working there under mentor James Anderson.

But as per the reports in Daily Mail, Saqib Mahmood couldn't even go to UAE and has been unable to train due to freezing conditions in England. The Jos Buttler-led side are all set to leave for India on Friday, January 17 but the fast bowler might have to wait for some time.

Saqib Mahmood previously has been denied entry to India due to the same visa issues

Saqib Mahmood's participation in the India tour due to visa issues has come under the scanner. The fast bowler still is awaiting a resolution to the issue. The ECB, so far, hasn't stated anything on the issue and is working with the BCCI to make sure that the pacer gets his visa.

This, however, isn't the first time that Saqib Mahmood has been denied entry to India. During the Lancashire tour last year, he didn't get a visa and also faced similar issues in 2019 as he couldn't travel with the Lions squad for the subcontinent tour.

Saqib Mahmood, who is a Pakistan-origin English player, joins Shoaib Bashir and Rehan Ahmed in the list of England players who faced trouble getting visas. Both the spinners faced similar issues ahead of the five-match Test series against India in early 2024.

Saqib Mahmood's absence will be a massive blow for England for the India tour

Bashir was stranded in the UAE due to visa issues, and as a result of that, he missed the first match of the series in Hyderabad. On the other hand, Rehan Ahmed wasn't allowed to go back and was found to have only a single-entry visa.

If Saqib Mahmood fails to get a visa in time and misses the series, it will be a massive blow for the Jos Buttler-led side. He was the Player of the Series during the T20I series against West Indies as he picked 9 wickets in three games and helped his team win.

Also read: BCCI to punish Rohit, Kohli and others, underperforming stars to face financial blow