England pacer and Pakistani origin; Saqib Mahmood denied visa; uncertainty over fast bowler's participation in India-England series

LONDON: England pace bowler denied visa for India tour. Saqib Mahmood, who is of Pakistani origin, did not get an Indian visa. Daily Mail reports that Saqib's passport is still being held by the Indian Embassy. England will play five T20Is and three ODIs in India. The matches will start on January 22. Saqib, 27, who has played nine ODIs and two Tests for England, is yet to make his T20 debut.

Meanwhile, Saqib's other teammates Jofra Archer, Gus Atkinson, Brydon Carse and Mark Wood have started training in the UAE under legendary English pace bowler James Anderson. Saqib was also supposed to come to England for training. Saqib Mahmood's trip was cancelled by the English Cricket Board as he could not get a visa. Whether he will make it to India for the series is still unclear.

Mahmood was supposed to arrive at the bowling camp in UAE last Thursday ahead of the tour of India. It is very cold in England at the moment so it is difficult to train there. That is why English bowlers came to UAE for training. The first Twenty20 match of the India-England series will be played in Kolkata next Wednesday.