Approximately 10 days following the visa dispute involving England spinner Shoaib Bashir, another compatriot, Rehan Ahmed, finds himself entangled in a similar predicament. During the 10-day hiatus between the second and third Test matches, Rehan, alongside the rest of the England team, ventured to Abu Dhabi. However, upon attempting to enter India, he was halted at Hirasar airport in Rajkot due to inadequate documentation for entry into the country.
Reportedly, Rehan possessed only a single-entry visa, which led to his detention at the airport. Recognizing the urgency of the situation, local authorities managed to secure a temporary solution by granting him a two-day visa extension. Nevertheless, the England camp has been urged to resolve the matter comprehensively within the subsequent two days.
It is crucial to understand that individuals holding single-entry visas are restricted from exiting and re-entering the country. Despite the setback, the England team remains hopeful that the issue will be fully resolved within the next 24 hours. Apart from Rehan, the remainder of the travelling squad and support staff encountered no obstacles and safely reached their accommodations in Rajkot by Monday evening. Notably, this marks the first instance of an international flight directly landing in Rajkot, necessitating the establishment of a temporary immigration counter with officials from Jamnagar to manage the situation. Among the 31 members of the England contingent scheduled to enter India, only Rehan faced visa-related complications.
In contrast to Bashir’s experience, Rehan encountered no difficulties during his initial entry into India alongside his England teammates. With three more Tests remaining in the series, including the next one commencing on February 15, England is eager to resolve Rehan’s visa predicament swiftly and decisively. The timely resolution of this issue is imperative to ensure the smooth progression of the ongoing cricket series and to alleviate any further disruptions or distractions for the team.
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