Origin: Pakistan Saqib Mahmood, an England fast bowler, has finally received his visa for the forthcoming limited-overs series against India. Prior to the first Twenty20 International on January 22, Mahmood, who previously experienced delayed travel document complications, will join the England squad in Kolkata.
Mahmood was unable to attend an important pace-bowling session in Abu Dhabi because his passport was being held up at the Indian Embassy. Leading figures in the camp, including Jofra Archer and Mark Wood, were supervised by James Anderson, an English fast-bowling specialist.
Mahmood has previously experienced visa problems. Similar problems led to his replacement in the England Lions squad for a 2019 visit of India. Mahmood had to cancel Lancashire’s preseason tour in 2024 because of the same problem. He is not alone in experiencing these difficulties; on Indian tours, other Pakistani-born England players, such as Adil Rashid, Rehan Ahmed, and Shoaib Bashir, have run into issues pertaining to visas.
Mahmood’s preparation for the series was hampered by the delay, even though his visa application was started well in advance. Similar issues earlier affected Rehan Ahmed, who was restricted with a single-entry visa for the Rajkot match, and England spinner Bashir, who missed the first Test match against India last year.
Before he suffered from injuries, Saqib Mahmood had a stellar run in the Caribbean.
The 27-year-old pacer, meanwhile, is a member of the England lineup after recovering from two lower back stress fractures. During England’s T20I trip of the Caribbean in November, Mahmood won Player of the Series after taking nine wickets in three games, shattering the record for the most Powerplay wickets taken by an England bowler in a men’s series. Mahmood is ready to contribute under head coach Brendon McCullum after making 29 appearances for his country in a variety of formats, including two Test outings against the West Indies in 2022.
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