Rishad, Nahid join squad after visa clearance, available for first T20I

Leg-spinner Rishad Hossain and pacer Nahid Rana have joined the team in the UAE after receiving immigration clearance and are available for Bangladesh's opening T20I against the hosts today.

The first of the two-match T20I series is scheduled to begin at 9:00pm, Bangladesh time.

"They joined the side yesterday. In the UAE, the immigration department doesn't reveal what the real problem is. They were at the airport hotel for one night. Both of them are available for today's match," Shahriar Nafees, BCB's cricket operations department in-charge, told The Daily Star.

Rishad and Nahid had initially flown to the UAE on the morning of May 14 as part of the first contingent of players. However, upon arrival, they were denied entry due to visa complications and were subsequently kept at an airport hotel while the matter was being resolved.

The two players finally joined the squad late on May 16 (early morning of May 17) after the issue was cleared.

It is believed the complication stemmed from their previous visit to the UAE during their return from Pakistan after the Pakistan Super League (PSL) was suspended. Foreign players, including Rishad and Nahid, had been flown to the UAE under special arrangements, and it is suspected that the transit route or documentation used at the time may have contributed to the current entry denial.

"Both the visas were under immigration security check. We applied for new visas after they arrived here. They came without valid visas," an Emirates Cricket Board official told The Daily Star.

"They were at the airport for two nights. They only joined the side late on the 16th (early 17th) after they received new visas," the official added.