England's preparations for next month's T20 World Cup have suffered a setback after the Indian government failed to issue visas to spinners Adil Rashid and Rehan Ahmed. The delay, attributed to their Pakistani heritage and strained diplomatic relations between India and Pakistan, means both players are unlikely to travel with the squad this weekend for six warm-up matches against Sri Lanka.
The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) is accustomed to such bureaucratic delays, having experienced similar issues with Shoaib Bashir and Saqib Mahmood in the past. Although the Indian government has assured the ECB it has no objection to the applications, the timing remains uncertain. The ECB has enlisted help from the UK government to expedite the process, and hopes that Rashid and Ahmed, currently playing in South Africa and Australia respectively, can fly directly from there to Sri Lanka or India.
The ECB is confident the visas will be issued in time for the World Cup, which begins on 8 February, but the disruption has affected preparations for a team already under pressure after a 4-1 Ashes defeat. Head coach Brendon McCullum will be aiming for at least a semi-final finish to ease concerns about his position, while captain Harry Brook faces scrutiny after being fined £30,000 by the ECB for a nightclub altercation.
England's group, which includes West Indies, Bangladesh and Italy, should be manageable, but the Super Eight stage will be far more competitive. With limited spin options – Liam Dawson is the only other specialist spinner – Will Jacks and Jacob Bethell may be called upon to bowl more than expected in the upcoming series against Sri Lanka, starting on 22 January.
Further complications arise as Bangladesh have requested a neutral venue for their group match against England due to security concerns amid tensions with India. The Board of Control for Cricket in India is lobbying the International Cricket Council to oppose any scheduling changes.
