India’s T20 series vs West Indies faces uncertainty due to visa issues

The last two games of a T20I series between India and the West Indies are facing uncertainties. Multiple reports hold both teams have yet to acquire their visas for entry to the United States ahead of the August 6-7 games in Lauderhill, Florida. In the wake of this event, Cricket West Indies (CWI) reportedly plans to put these games on hold but prioritises efforts to work on players' visas.

According to multiple reports, most players from both teams have not received their travel documents to the US. The initial plan was to have all players receive these documents in Saint Kitts and Nevis. However, they might have to travel to Trinidad to take care of these documents before making their way to the States.

Despite this and the fact that the Lauderhill game is only less than a week away, the last two games of the India tour of the West Indies are still possible. CWI president Ricky Skerritt said that options to receive visas were “being explored”. However, Skerritt’s priority is still to get both teams to land in the States and play at North America's only ICC-certified cricket stadium.

"There are options being explored while we continue to pursue the possibilities of receiving the outstanding visas," Skerritt told Cricbuzz.

Uncertainty shrouds India’s T20I series last games

India and West Indies are currently playing their two T20I games in Basseterre, the capital city of Saint Kitts and Nevis, less than a week away from the first game at Central Broward Park in Lauderhill.

“Central Broward Park, Lauderhill, Florida in the US, has been allotted the August 6 and 7 games of the ongoing five-match series but Cricbuzz can confirm that at the time of filing this report, many members of the India and West Indies squads have not received their US travel document,” Cricbuzz’s Vijay Tagore wrote.

At the time of writing, no information claims both teams have received supporting documents in Saint Kitts and Nevis. Should the same condition remain for this entire week, then Trinidad would likely be their upcoming destination to deal with the issue and depart to Uncle Sam.

"Having the games in the Caribbean is not unlikely but efforts are being made to resolve the visa issue," a source in West Indies said.

"The initial information was that the players would be handed the US travel documents in St Kitts where the teams have arrived. But there's a chance that the players may have to travel back to Trinidad for the visa documents and from there to the US if they obtain the all-clear."

India is leading the T20I series over West Indies after a dominating 68 runs to win the first game in Tarouba on July 29. Right-handed batsman Sharmarh Brooks, all-rounder Keemo Paul, and wicketkeeper Nicholas Poora were responsible for most of the West Indies' scores. However, they still failed to overcome India captain Rohit Sharma and wicketkeeper Dinesh Karthik.

Sharma and Karthik led Team India's scoring board. The latter was named Player of the Match after posting a team-high strike rate of 150.