Hopefully Rehan Ahmed's visa issue will be sorted in a day or so: Ollie Pope

England batter Ollie Pope is optimistic that the visa issues related to spinner Rehan Ahmed will be sorted out sooner rather than later as the visiting side get ready to take on India in the third Test at Rajkot from 15 February. Rehan’s exit from the Hirasar airport in Rajkot on Monday was delayed as the England cricketer did not have a multiple entry Indian visa and only held a single-entry visa. Rehan was already in India before leaving the country for Abu Dhabi for a 10-day break after the second Test in Visakhapatnam.

On return, Rehan had to face visa issues as he did not held the appropriate visa. However, the 19-year-old was later provided a two-day visa by the local immigration officers to allow him to leave the airport and enter India.

Pope hopes that the issue will be resolved ahead of the third Test which starts on Thursday.

“Hopefully it (Ahmed’s visa issue) will be sorted in a day or so,” Pope said in a press conference here on Tuesday.

With Jack Leach ruled out due to knee injury, Rehan has become an important spinner for England. He took two wickets as England defeated India by 28 runs at Hyderabad in the first Test. He followed it up with six wickets at Visakhapatnam but India won the match by 106 runs to level the series 1-1.

The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has shared that the they are working towards resolving the issue after Indian authorities found some discrepancies with Ahmed’s paperwork.

“We were advised, on returning to India, that there was paperwork discrepancy with Rehan Ahmed’s visa,” ECB was quoted as saying by ESPNcricinfo.

“The local authorities at Rajkot Airport were supportive, enabling Rehan’s entry on a temporary visa. The correct visa should be processed and issued in the coming days. He will continue to prepare with the rest of the squad ahead of the third Test.”