Bangladesh’s reserve cricketer Saif Hassan had to cough up a fine of Rs 21,600 before being allowed to fly out of the Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose International Airport in Kolkata airport because the duration of expired visa.
Hassan, who travelled with the Bangladesh team as a back-up opener for the Test series, returned home on Wednesday night.
Hassan, who was being considered for the day-night ball Test at Eden Gardens in Kolkata but missed it because of a split webbing on his finger, had stayed back with the team without noticing that his six-month visa had already expired.
“His (Hassan) visa expired two days ago and he realized it only at the airport. He could not board the booked flight. As per the new rules of overstay, he had to pay the fine,” Bangladesh’s Deputy High Commissioner Toufique Hassan said.
“Thankfully, the Indian High Commission processed his visa and gave him the exit clearance and he left for home yesterday,” he said on Thursday.
Bangladeshi players returned home in batches with a few flying back on the same day they lost the day-night Test in Kolkata by an innings and 46 runs.
Bangladesh’s most successful batsman in the recent series in India Mushfiqur Rahim was spotted in the Great Eastern Hotel today having breakfast this morning.
Hassan and the rest of the team were scheduled to leave on Monday but the young opener was held up at the Kolkata airport for overstaying.
The Bangladesh Cricket Board had procured visa for the entire touring team barring Hassan as he already had an existing Indian visa which was issued in June.
