There was a collective exhale at England headquarters on Thursday as confirmation came through that Adil Rashid will be boarding the flight to Sri Lanka this weekend.
For a few tense days, the prospect of England heading into crucial Twenty20 World Cup preparations without their senior spinner had loomed uncomfortably large.
Now, at least on that front, calm has been restored.
Visa Delays That Sparked a Scramble
The problem was never cricketing. It was paperwork.
Indian visa delays affecting Rashid and fellow wrist-spinner Rehan Ahmed — both of Pakistani heritage — threatened to derail England’s carefully laid plans.
With time slipping away, the ECB went into overdrive, pressing the issue with UK and Indian officials, the ICC and the Indian cricket board in a frantic bid to speed things up.
Those efforts appear to have paid off, at least partially.
Rashid Cleared, Ahmed Still in Limbo
Rashid’s situation is now resolved, allowing him to link up with the squad ahead of Sunday’s departure.
Ahmed, however, remains stuck in administrative quicksand.
For now, he will stay in Australia with Hobart Hurricanes in the Big Bash League while officials continue working through the red tape.
There is still optimism within the ECB that Ahmed can join the party before England’s white-ball series against Sri Lanka begins in Colombo on January 22, but that hope comes with crossed fingers rather than certainty.
A Familiar Problem in a Tense Climate
This is far from an isolated incident.
Strained relations between India and Pakistan have created similar complications for England players in recent years, turning what should be routine travel into a diplomatic obstacle course.
Only two years ago, Shoaib Bashir was forced to fly back to London to finalise a visa application, missing the opening Test as a result.
That memory has clearly sharpened minds this time around.
Swift Action Behind the Scenes
Determined not to repeat past mistakes, the ECB moved quickly.
Once the ICC issued official invitations, appointments were arranged for Rashid and Ahmed in Dubai and Australia respectively.
Rashid was already in the UAE on ILT20 duty, which at least simplified his logistics.
On Wednesday evening, confirmation arrived from the Indian government that there was no objection to either player travelling.
From that point, the matter passed into the hands of Indian cricket officials and the ICC — a small but crucial step forward.
A Wider Frustration Across World Cricket
England are not alone in their irritation.
Other nations, including the United States, are understood to have faced similar hurdles, fuelling growing frustration within the game that such issues persist on the eve of a global tournament.
With the World Cup fast approaching, many within cricket feel these problems should have been ironed out long ago rather than allowed to fester.
Countdown to the World Cup Begins
England’s World Cup campaign begins on February 8 against Nepal at Mumbai’s Wankhede Stadium, just four days after the squad is due to arrive from Sri Lanka.
The warm-up series is not a luxury; it is essential preparation, especially in conditions where spin is expected to dominate.
Why Rashid Matters So Much
Few players are more central to England’s hopes than Rashid.
A double World Cup winner and the country’s leading wicket-taker in T20 cricket, he remains the heartbeat of England’s white-ball attack.
After a winter scarred by a miserable Ashes campaign, his experience and control could yet anchor a surprise run at a third T20 title.
Alongside him, Hampshire’s Liam Dawson provides the other specialist spin option, underlining just how vital Rashid’s availability is on a tour where slow bowling may well decide matches.
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