India fans have every right to feel angry. They had the best team by miles, and on fresh, fast, flat pitches they were unbeatable. Their big guns hit hard; their quicks were unbeatable. (1/3)
Kit Harris
6,273 posts
Cricket writer, broadcaster and scorecard artist. Assistant Editor of the @WisdenAlmanack. Commentator for @BBCSport since 2017. International cricketer.
- We need to start calling these “visa issues” what they really are: deliberate victimisation of an Englishman because he has Pakistani parentage. This isn’t paperwork. This is the BCCI secretary and the BJP home minister working in harness to punish Bashir for being who he is.Shoaib Bashir, a surprise call-up to England's Test squad for India, did not travel with the rest of the team on Sunday from the UAE after a delay in his paperwork es.pn/3HuhgZs #INDvENG
- Massive news. Bashir comes home. The Indian government has found a way of deciding who is and is not eligible to play for England in the First Test — based on their race. This is a huge moment. The series must now be delayed until England are permitted their full squad in India.England's Shoaib Bashir will miss the first Test in Hyderabad because of a visa delay. #BBCCricket
- My daughter made her first cricket tea today. What do we think?
- It’s called “mateship”. I know it doesn’t exist in politics, but it does in sport — especially Australian sport. When it comes to the Australian cricket team, Usman Khawaja isn’t a “minority”. He’s their opening batsman. I imagine the players felt the tradition of taking aOnce again the Australian cricket team do not celebrate in champagne style because 1 of the team members is a Muslim. Are we all to suspend normal life because of the minority?
- Replying to @cricketkitBut for some reason the management decided the team needed extra help, and loaded the dice. This worn, slow, dull pitch – which the ICC didn’t want – negated the Indian team’s natural advantages. If India had batted first on a normal pitch, they’d have smashed it. (2/3)
- Replying to @cricketkitCummins saw this pitch and realised it would narrow the gap between the teams: for once, no one knew what a winning score was. To his delight, he could field first and have the advantage. The India management have seized the hand of fate and broken it. (3/3)
- Ultranationalist with 60K followers calls for the BCCI to suspend the series until the ECB apologises for assistant editor of cricket book criticising the ruling party of India. Please “like” my post if you feel it would send stronger message to have me executed in public.
- We all know the BJP are going to grant Bashir a visa. The delay is just a show of power. If they didn’t let him in, it would be the D’Oliveira affair all over again. A 20-year old England cricketer from Surrey is not a terrorist. No intelligent person could think otherwise.
- This must be the worst wicket-taking ball in Test cricket history. Bowler gets credit in the stats.
- The ECB sent Bashir to the UAE for a two-week training camp, Venkatesh. Presumably you are not suggesting he should have stayed in the UK and missed training. Had the visa not been subject to a racially-motivated delay, he’d have had it before he went.His visa needed to be stamped in the UK. The ECB sent Shoaib Bashir to the UAE, thinking it would be stamped in a third country. Not following basic procedures , assuming things and then crying foul is an old English way. If anyone, it is the ECB at fault.
- Please spare a thought today for the women of Afghanistan. While the men rejoice and revel in cricketing success, the women cannot go to secondary school or university, have a job, go swimming, visit a gym, walk in a park, or play cricket. Remember them. #CWC23
- What’s fascinating about this clip is that the commentators believe being critical of the India team means they may never get a job in India again. Many a true word said in jest … but it’s a revealing observation, and an important one.
00:00 - Afghan government takes over cricket, bans all women from playing, breaking ICC rules. ICC says carry on, you do you, full funding. Sri Lankan government takes over cricket, changes administrative procedures, breaking ICC rules. ICC is horrified, suspends Sri Lanka from cricket.















