The Pakistan squad arrived in London on Tuesday for their tours of Ireland and England minus pacer Mohammad Amir.
The fast bowling spearhead was not able to depart with the rest of the team due to troubles in obtaining a visa.
“Amir could not travel with the team. There’s some procedural issue which I hope will be resolved by Wednesday,” Pakistan Cricket Board spokesman Amjad Bhatti told reporters on Monday as the team departed for London.
It was however confirmed by the PCB on Tuesday that the pacer had been granted a UK visa. Amir will now be travelling to London on Wednesday to join up with the rest of his team-mates.
Mohammad Amir has received his UK visa and will join the Pakistan squad on Wednesday #Cricket
— Saj Sadiq (@Saj_PakPassion) April 23, 2018
Amir has previously had troubles in obtaining a UK visa during Pakistan’s tour of England in 2016. That time, the PCB sought the England and Wales Cricket Board’s (ECB) help in resolving the matter.
Pakistan Team arrive at Gatwick Airport, London pic.twitter.com/o7zqcgmKRR
— PCB Official (@TheRealPCB) April 23, 2018
The Pakistan star served a five-year ban from cricket after his involvement in the spot-fixing saga of 2010 during the tour of England.
The Sarfraz Ahmed-led Pakistan team are set to become Ireland’s first-ever Test opponents when the two sides meet for a one-off Test in Dublin on May 11. The squad will then return to England for a two-Test series before finishing the tour of the UK with two T20Is against Scotland.
The subcontinent side will be playing two warm-up matches against Kent and Northampton before they jet-off to Ireland for the sole Test. The match against Kent at Canterbury will get underway on Saturday with Amir expected to be a part of the squad.
