The visa delay, once a “slight hassle” for 20-year-old England debutant Shoaib Bashir during the India tour, is now a thing of the past. Bashir expresses delight at securing Rohit Sharma as his first Test wicket.
The visa delay that posed a “slight hassle” for 20-year-old England debutant Shoaib Bashir during the India tour is now behind him. Bashir, expressing delight, considers Rohit Sharma as his first Test wicket. Of Pakistani heritage, he faced visa-related challenges, preventing his initial travel with the England squad from Abu Dhabi to Hyderabad for the series opener. Bashir joined the team mid-way through the Hyderabad Test, eventually witnessing a remarkable victory.
On Friday, the 6’4″ tall off-spinner showcased his skills, demonstrating why skipper Ben Stokes selected him for the squad after viewing a video clip of his bowling on social media.
Bashir, with only six first-class games under his belt before this significant opportunity, emerged as England’s most effective spinner on the opening day. He registered figures of two for 100 in 28 overs, also bowling the highest number of overs for the team.
“It’s been a very special, special day. For all that I’ve been through in the last two to three years, it made it even more special. To get Rohit Sharma out, my first wicket, feels incredible,” said Bashir.
“He’s a quality player, one of the best in the world and a great player of spin as well,” Bashir added.
Bashir had to return to England from Abu Dhabi to resolve his visa issues before making the journey to India. Stokes mentioned being devastated and considering staying in Abu Dhabi until the matter was resolved. However, Bashir remained confident about obtaining the visa throughout the process.
“No doubts at all, I always knew I would get the visa. It was a bit of a hassle but we’re here now, I’ve made my debut, and that’s all that matters. I was pretty chilled to be fair. I knew it would get sorted so thanks to ECB and BCCI for sorting out quite quickly,” he said.
The advantage of being tall, as seen in Bashir’s case, lies in the ability to generate additional bounce, adding to the effectiveness of his bowling.
Former England captain Alastair Cook has expressed admiration for Bashir’s control at such a young age. However, the spinner personally believes that he could have been more accurate on his debut day in Test cricket.
“I could have been a bit more consistent with my lines but I’m just going to look back on this day and think getting Rohit Sharma out, I think that’s all that matters really,” he said.
Apart from gaining insights from Ben Stokes, Bashir is grateful for the opportunity to learn from the wisdom of veterans James Anderson and Joe Root in the England setup.