With just three weeks to go until the opening matches of the Twenty20 World Cup, uncertainty lingers about who will be playing and even where some matches will take place – a preposterous situation for a global tournament.
It is totally unacceptable that England’s players of Pakistani ancestry, and those with similar backgrounds in squads of seven other nations, have been left in limbo – not yet guaranteed to arrive in India alongside their team-mates ahead of the February 7 fixtures.
As co-hosts, India have a duty to ensure that all of the qualified teams are treated with dignity. Yet here we are, a third January in a row, with some of Britain’s leading sportspeople being treated like second-class citizens.
Yes, the ECB remain highly confident that their lobbying of the Indian government and its cricket board will result in Adil Rashid, England’s most prolific T20 bowler, and his long-term successor as a wrist-spinner Rehan Ahmed – Bradford and Nottingham-born with Pakistani heritage – getting their visas granted in good time.
But recent history dilutes such confidence – two years ago, England’s first Test team selection in Hyderabad was dictated to them by first-choice spinner Shoaib Bashir’s paperwork being delayed meaning he missed the match, while 12 months ago, Saqib Mahmood was forced to miss a pre-tour training camp ahead of a white-ball tour to the subcontinent.
The ECB are confident that Adil Rashid, England’s most prolific T20 bowler, will be granted his visa in good time for the World Cup. But recent history dilutes such confidence
Shoaib Bashir was forced to miss an England Test in India two years ago when visa issues cropped up again
This latest issue is one known to be causing angst at Lord’s, but the ECB hierarchy’s reluctance to speak out publicly highlights where the power lies in world cricket.
England and Zimbabwe are the only Test-playing nations affected, but there are six others from lower down cricket’s food chain, including the United States, who have four players with Pakistan links.
Claims earlier this week by the highest profile member of that quartet, fast bowling franchise star Ali Khan, that their visa applications had been declined, not delayed, have since been dismissed by ICC sources.
But pause and spare a thought for the individuals themselves, who should be excited by the prospect of giving their best on the global stage but are instead feeling hostility before their arrival that will naturally impact their preparations and potentially their performances.
The ICC are said to be working to expedite the process for all, but are also sending a delegation to Bangladesh amid requests by the government of India’s neighbours to relocate their team’s matches on safety and security grounds following a deterioration in relations.
When contacted by Daily Mail Sport on Friday, Cricket Ireland’s top brass dismissed as ‘pure speculation’, suggestions that the contingency plan being discussed involved the Irish and Bangladesh swapping groups.
England’s Rehan Ahmed is also waiting to find out if he will be granted a visa ahead of the T20 World Cup, co-hosted by India
Paul Stirling’s Ireland may be forced to switch World Cup groups at the 11th hour
However, it appears to be the most plausible Plan B with the Bangladeshis point-blank refusing to play their fixtures on Indian soil – three of their group matches are currently at Kolkata’s iconic Eden Gardens, including one against England on February 14, with the other in Mumbai.
Switching with Ireland, who are in a group also involving Australia being played exclusively in Sri Lanka, would make sense from an integrity point of view. Ireland are ranked 11th in T20 Internationals, two places below the Bangladeshis, and are therefore comparable opponents.
A Valentine’s Day date would also add piquancy to England’s attempts to put a woeful Ashes behind them: Ireland beat Andrew Strauss’ side at the 50-over World Cup in India 15 years ago and also won a weather-hit game when England became T20 world champions for the second time in Australia in late 2022.
But it would be highly inconvenient to the estimated 200-strong group of Ireland supporters that have made independent travel plans based on the schedule announced seven weeks ago.
