Pakistani-origin English cricketer Saqib Mahmood facing visa issue ahead of India tour: Reports

The ECB expects that the issue will be resolved before the rest of the team travel to Kolkata on Friday ahead of Wednesday's first T20I but the delay is a familiar issue for England players with Pakistani heritage, reported Espncricinfo.

The ECB declined to comment but is understood to be optimistic that Mahmood will secure his visa in time to board the team's flight, the cricket-based news portal reported.

Adil Rashid and Rehan Ahmed are the other two Pakistani-origin cricketers in the squad.

According to reports, they have received their visa.

Ahead of the India tour, Mahmood was scheduled to visit Abu Dhabi and join teammates Jofra Archer, Gus Atkinson, Brydon Carse and Mark Wood for the pace bowling camp.

British pace legend James Anderson will be overseeing the camp as a bowling consultant.

Mahmood was required to surrender his passport as part of the visa process, and was therefore unable to travel, reported Espncricinfo.

He is also a part of the Champions Trophy squad.

The multi-nation tournament will begin in Pakistan and the UAE in February.

Mahmood did not face this issue for the first time since in 2019 he could not tour with the England Lions.

According to reports, he was denied a visa in 2024 when Lancashire visited India.