Hetmyer’s visa woes cast shadow over Windies

BENGALURU, India:

In a concerning development ahead of the T20 World Cup, West Indies' batting power hitter Shimron Hetmyer finds himself stranded in South Africa, unable to join his teammates in India due to unresolved visa issues.

The delay has thrown a spanner in the works for the Caribbean side's preparations, with their opening warm-up fixture against Scotland just two days away.

Cricket West Indies (CWI) has issued a brief statement, assuring that "the matter will be dealt with soon".

However, with the clock ticking down to the team's first preparatory clash, the assurance is doing little to alleviate concerns within the camp and among fans.

The logistical snag is particularly frustrating given that the rest of the squad is in match mode, following their warm-up loss to Afghanistan on Wednesday.

The absence of the Guyanese left-hander is a significant blow. Hetmyer arrives in scintillating form, having just tormented the South African bowling attack on their home soil.

In the recently concluded three-match T20 series, the hefty hitter was the standout performer, amassing a series-leading 171 runs.

His knock included a top score of 75, blasted at a breathtaking strike rate of 178.

The incident raises familiar questions about administrative readiness ahead of global tournaments.

For Hetmyer, who has had chequered history with team commitments in the past, this unforeseen delay is an unfortunate hurdle as he looks to cement his role as a linchpin of the West Indies' title challenge.

- CMC