India vs England: Spinner Rehan Ahmed stopped at Rajkot airport due to visa issue, weeks after Shoaib Bashir row

By Ronak Majithia

England spinner Rehan Ahmed was stopped at the Rajkot airport due to a visa issue on Monday, 12 February. The spinner had a single entry visa to India and hence was stopped by the airport authorities while flying back from the UAE for the second time in the last 30 days.

The England team reached Rajkot from Abu Dhabi for the third Test match of the series, set to start on February 15. England cricketer Rehan Ahmed faced trouble for more than 2 hours at Rajkot airport after possessing the wrong visa. Rehan had a single entry visa to India and hence was stopped by the authorities after landing in the country for the second time in the last month.

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England’s Break in Abu Dhabi

Due to the long break between the second and third Tests, the England team went to Abu Dhabi to spend time with his family. The England Cricket Board took prompt action and immediately processed the visa for the young leg spinner.

Players of the England team including Joe Root, James Anderson, Jonny Bairstow, Ollie Pope, Ben Stokes, Rehan Ahmed, Shoaib Basir, and Zak Crowley reached Rajkot. Both teams will practice tomorrow.

Shoaib Bashir’s Ordeal

Earlier, young spinner Shoaib Bashir had faced a setback ahead of the match in Hyderabad as visa complications forced him to return to England. Despite applying for his visa on December 11th, 2023, and the rest of the touring party receiving their approvals promptly, Bashir’s application was delayed. The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) anticipated resolving the matter in Abu Dhabi during a pre-series camp but ultimately had to send Bashir back to the UK for further paperwork.

Former India cricketer Venkatesh Prasad had slammed the ECB on X, saying that not following basic procedures, assuming things and then crying foul is ‘an old English way.’ The former cricketer had said that the delay was essentially caused by the visa not being stamped in the UK and ECB thought it would get done in a third country.

“His visa needed to be stamped in the UK. The ECB sent Shoaib Bashir to the UAE, thinking it would be stamped in a third country. Not following basic procedures, assuming things and then crying foul is an old English way. If anyone, it is the ECB at fault,” Prasad had written on X.