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IND vs ENG, 3rd Test: England spinner Rehan Ahmed's visa issues, hindered entry into India: Report

The setback occurred during the 10-day break between the second and third Test matches when Rehan, equipped with a single-entry visa, was halted at Rajkot's Hirasar airport.

By Omar | Feb 13, 2024 | 2 Min Read

England cricketer Rehan Ahmed faced an impediment to his entry into India as a result of a visa issue, reminiscent of a similar incident involving spinner Shoaib Bashir just 10 days prior. The setback occurred during the 10-day break between the second and third Test matches when Rehan, equipped with a single-entry visa, was halted at Rajkot’s Hirasar airport. In a makeshift solution, local authorities granted him a temporary 2-day visa, urging the England camp to resolve the issue comprehensively within the next two days.

It’s important to note that an individual with a single-entry visa is constrained from exiting and re-entering the country. Despite the setback, the England team remains hopeful that the issue will be entirely resolved within the next 24 hours. Aside from Rehan, other squad members and support staff encountered no obstacles and reached their Rajkot hotel by Monday evening.

“The England team has been advised to process the visa again, which will be happening in the next two days. The player was allowed to enter the country with the rest of the team and he will be appearing in practice on Tuesday,” explained a BCCI official, as reported by Hindustan Times.

This marks the inaugural instance of an international flight landing directly in Rajkot, prompting the establishment of a temporary immigration counter overseen by officials from Jamnagar. Out of the 31 members in the England contingent, only Rehan faced visa-related challenges.

In contrast to Bashir, Rehan encountered no complications during his initial entry into India with the rest of the England squad. With three more Tests in the series, England is eager to swiftly resolve Rehan’s visa issue, especially with the next match scheduled to begin on February 15.