KINGSTON, Jamaica, CMC – Batsman Narsingh Deonarine left Jamaica on Wednesday evening to join the West Indies touring party in England after his protracted visa saga finally ended.
Deonarine and fellow Guyanese left-hander Assad Fudadin were held up here in recent days awaiting United Kingdom visas. Fudadin joined the squad in Northampton yesterday, a team official has confirmed.
Both players were held up here since last week awaiting travel documents and while Fudadin secured his and left for England on Tuesday evening, Deonarine remained here still waiting on further clearance in order to travel.
He will be the last of three missing players to join the squad after Jamaican all-rounder Marlon Samuels arrived from the Indian Premier League on Tuesday.
Captain Darren Sammy said Wednesday the late arrivals had not disrupted the squad in any way.
“We were aware once we were leaving the Caribbean that Narsingh and [Fudadin] would be in Jamaica trying to sort it (visa issues) out and Marlon was in the IPL with Pune,” Sammy told reporters in Northampton where West Indies are playing their four-day match against England Lions.
“We’ve just moved on with things and the players who have been here have made full use of the indoor facilities and that’s what we’ve been looking to do, just move forward and handle the distractions quite well.”
Deonarine, Fudadin and Samuels missed the three-day tour opener against Sussex last weekend, leaving West Indies with just 11 players and no reserves for the game in Hove.