Saqib Mahmood has finally secured his visa for England’s limited-overs series in India. He will now join the squad in Kolkata on Friday, ahead of the first T20I on Wednesday.
Mahmood, of Pakistani heritage, experienced delays in obtaining his travel document, causing him to miss England’s training camp in the UAE. However, teammates Adil Rashid and Rehan Ahmed, who share a similar background, had their visas processed earlier. This is not the first time Mahmood has faced such challenges. In 2019, he was replaced on an England Lions tour of India due to visa issues. A similar situation in 2024 saw him miss Lancashire’s pre-season tour, while another England player, Shoaib Bashir, had missed the first Test against India in Hyderabad due to visa delays.
Mahmood had initially planned to attend a pace-bowling camp in Abu Dhabi alongside Jofra Archer, Gus Atkinson, Brydon Carse, and Mark Wood under James Anderson’s guidance. Unfortunately, his passport remained with the Indian Embassy, preventing him from traveling with the group.
The 27-year-old pacer has been on a comeback journey after enduring consecutive lower-back stress fractures. Mahmood returned to international cricket last year and shone in England’s T20I series in the Caribbean, claiming nine wickets at an average of 10.55 to earn the Player of the Series award. With 29 international appearances, including two Test caps against West Indies in 2022, Mahmood is eager to make a mark under head coach Brendon McCullum, who now oversees England’s red- and white-ball teams.
Mahmood’s availability boosts England’s preparations as they gear up for a challenging series in India.
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