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[Saba Sports News] The visa complications for England’s wrist-spinner Rehan Ahmed were resolved on Wednesday, February 14, just in time for the third Test match in Rajkot. The 19-year-old, of Pakistani heritage, faced challenges re-entering India after a ten-day hiatus in Abu Dhabi due to possessing a single-entry visa upon his initial arrival in Rajkot. His visa issues were promptly addressed, allowing him to complete his documentation before the commencement of the third Test, thanks to efforts from the Indian Government and the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI).
England’s captain, Ben Stokes, expressed his gratitude towards the BCCI and the Indian government for their swift action in resolving Ahmed’s visa situation. Stokes highlighted the relief and appreciation for the efficient resolution, ensuring that Ahmed could participate in the upcoming match without further visa-related concerns.
“For any individual having to wait for that is always an anxious period, but thankfully, we got it through this morning, and great job from the guys at the airport for giving him his visa to get through initially, and everyone at the BCCI and the government to get the visa quickly. We do not have to worry anymore about those issues, we were very confident that we would get the visa for Rehan before the game started,” Stokes shared.
Ahmed has been a key player for England in the series, securing the position of the team’s second-highest wicket-taker with eight wickets in four innings, averaging 36.37. This situation mirrored a previous incident where England’s off-spinner Shoaib Bashir experienced delayed entry into India due to visa issues, only making his series debut in the second Test in Visakhapatnam where he took four wickets.
In preparation for the third Test, England announced a change in their Playing XI, including fast bowler Mark Wood in place of Bashir. With the series currently balanced at 1-1, both England and India are keen to gain an advantage in the match starting Thursday, February 15, at the Saurashtra Cricket Association Stadium in Rajkot.
The announced England team includes players Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Ollie Pope, Joe Root, Jonny Bairstow, Ben Stokes (captain), Ben Foakes, Rehan Ahmed, Tom Hartley, Mark Wood, and James Anderson.