England Test captain Ben Stokes has admitted Shoaib Bashir's visa issues left him 'emotional' ahead of the first Test in India.
Bashir has finally been granted his visa but will miss the opening match of the series in Hyderabad this week.
England chiefs applied for the off-spinner's visa in December, hours after he was named in an international squad for the first time.
However, his application was still to be accepted when the squad was due to fly to India from their Abu Dhabi training camp on Sunday.
Ben Stokes says he felt emotional over Shoaib Bashir's visa situation
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Bashir was born in Surrey in the UK but his parents are both of Pakistani origin.
England hoped the situation would be resolved at the beginning of the week for Bashir to be available for the first Test, which starts on Thursday.
But it emerged on Tuesday that the 20-year-old had to return to the UK in an attempt to iron out the issues.
Bashir has now been granted his visa and will fly to India later this week.
Before that news emerged, Stokes revealed he flirted with the idea of delaying his side's flight to India.
While admitting that was not a realistic prospect, Stokes said Bashir's saga left him feeling 'emotional'.
He said: "When I first found the news out in Abu Dhabi, I did say we shouldn't fly until Bash gets his visa.
"But that was a little bit tongue in cheek. I know it's a way bigger thing than doing that.
"That was probably just emotions around the whole thing. I'm pretty devastated that Bash has had to go through this.
"As a leader, as a captain, when one of your team-mates is affected by something like that, you get a bit emotional.
"I know he's back in London and a lot of people are jumping through hoops to try and get this through quicker.
"Hopefully, we're gonna see him here over the weekend. There was never a [realistic] chance that we were ever not going to travel around this but Bash knows he's had our full support."
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Shoaib Bashir will fly to India to join up with the England squad later this week
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The England and Wales Cricket Board released a statement on Wednesday confirming Bashir is now able to fly to India.
The statement read: "Shoaib Bashir has now received his visa, and is due to travel to join up with the team in India this weekend.
"We're glad the situation has now been resolved."
Somerset youngster Bashir has made just six first-class appearances in his career and was a surprise selection when the squad was announced.
Ben Stokes has picked his England XI for the first Test against India
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England have chosen their XI for the first Test, with Mark Wood the only seam bowler picked.
Lancashire spinner Tom Hartley will make his debut, with Jack Leach, Rehan Ahmed and Joe Root the other options with the ball.
Stokes is fit following knee surgery but will play as a batter only.
