Mahmood, who is from Pakistan, was unable to attend England’s training camp in the UAE due to delays in obtaining travel documents. Two other members of the T20I team, Adil Rashid and Rehan Ahmed, who have similar backgrounds, received visas earlier.
The Lancashire sailor faced similar problems in the past when he was swapped for the British Lions tour of India in 2019 after delays in his visa process. In 2024, he attended Lancashire’s pre-season tour expecting the same problems, months after England off-spinner Shoaib Bashir missed the first Test against India in Hyderabad due to slow processing of his visa. It was the last time.
Mahmood was scheduled to attend a pace bowling camp in Abu Dhabi led by fast bowling consultant James Anderson ahead of the India tour. The camp featured Jofra Archer, Gus Atkinson, Brydon Carse and Mark Wood. Those plans were scuppered by the fact that the Indian Embassy still holds his passport, and Mahmood had originally planned to travel to the UAE with his group last Thursday.
The 27-year-old is on his way to a comeback on the international stage after overcoming back-to-back stress fractures last year, and was named Player of the Series after scoring nine wins in England’s T20I series in the Caribbean in November. 10:55 turnstiles. Mahmood, who has played 29 matches across all formats, including two Test caps against West Indies in 2022, will be hoping to impress coach Brendan McCollum, who is currently in charge of England’s red-ball and white-ball teams.
