Uncapped England cricketer Shoaib Bashir has been left stranded in the United Arab Emirates due to visa issues ahead of the side's Test series in India.
Bashir – who was born in England but has parents of Pakistan heritage – was in the UAE with the side following an Abu Dhabi training camp.
The off-spinner's delay in joining the squad has been a result of a delay in paperwork but England coach Brendon McCullum confirmed the England Cricket Board has escalated the matter.
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Bashir's troubles are similar to Usman Khawaja's in January and February last year when he was impacted by a lengthy delay in receiving his visa for Australia's tour of India. Ultimately the issue was resolved in time for Khawaja to join his teammates in India.
Khawaja, who also has Pakistani heritage, had previously run into visa trouble when he was attempting to fly to India in 2011 for the Champions League Twenty20 tournament.
Wide World of Sports is not suggesting the visa delays in each instance have occurred due to the two players' heritage.
Twenty-year-old Bashir has been selected in England's squad on potential, having only taken 10 first class wickets at 67.
Speaking on Monday, McCullum said he hoped Bashir's issues would be resolved within 24 hours.
"Bash will join us hopefully tomorrow as well," McCullum said.
"He's got a couple of issues with his visa coming through. We're confident on the back of the help from the BCCI and the Indian government that will sort itself out pretty quickly as well.
"Things take time, don't they? Everyone is doing what they can. It's a process we need to go through. We're pretty confident that we're close. The time that Bash had with the squad over in Abu Dhabi, where he fitted in seamlessly, will serve him greatly.
"We've also got a little bit of support out there for him so he's not on his own. We're hoping the news will come through today that his visa has been approved, then we'll get him to sink his teeth into this series."
Stuart Hooper, ECB's managing director of cricket operations, is currently accompanying Bashir.
The first Test between India and England will be on Thursday January 25.
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