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After Shoaib Bashir, Rehan Ahmed Questioned At Rajkot Airport As ENG's Visa Issues Return

image-lsjvai85Rehan Ahmed [AP Photos]

England's visa issues for the ongoing five-Test series in India seemed to have resurfaced as leg-spinner Rehan Ahmed got stopped and questioned at the Rajkot airport on Monday (February 12). The young wrist-spinner was held by the immigration officials after he was found with an incorrect visa, according to a report in the Hindustan Times.

Rehan had travelled to Abu Dhabi after the completion of the second Test in Visakhapatnam with the entire England group. However, since he carried only a single-entry visa, he was withheld at the airport and was questioned by the authorities. Those holding a single-entry visa are not allowed to exit and re-enter a country.

A BCCI official privy to the developments shed light on the matter as per the HT report, stating that the Ben Stokes-led England contingent has been advised to get Rehan's visa processed again, and he will be allowed to enter the country and train in Rajkot for the third Test, not until Tuesday (February 13).


Rehan Ahmed Stopped At Rajkot Airport Over Visa Issues 

"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," the BCCI official said.

After undergoing a six-day holiday in Abu Dhabi, England's elongated 31-member contingent landed directly in Rajkot, the first instance of an international flight reaching there. Considering the scenario, the airport authorities had placed an immigration counter with officials from Jamnagar on duty.

"Rehan was the only one from the 31-member English contingent who did not have the right visa," the report said. 

The young wrist-spinner was part of England's playing XI for the first two Tests in Hyderabad and Visakhapatnam and is expected to continue playing unless the tourists tweak their spin strategy and combination by opting to pick an extra seamer and going in with two finger spinners in Tom Hartley and Shoaib Bashir, who was the other player to face visa issues before the first Test.