Bhatti released after UAE visa troubles

Bilawal Bhatti, the Pakistan allrounder , was detained at Dubai Airport for several hours for using an invalid visa before being released* to join the Pakistan squad.

According to the PCB, Bhatti had inadvertently used his single-entry visa, administered by the UAE, to enter Dubai on his way back to Pakistan on December 2, following the South Africa tour. When Bhatti tried to use the same visa on Thursday in order to re-enter Dubai ahead of the series against Sri Lanka, the authorities detained him.

The PCB has applied for a fresh visa on his behalf, and he was put up in an airport hotel till he was granted a visa. He was part of the squad which were to play Afghanistan and Sri Lanka in the UAE, for a series set to start on December 8.

"Bilawal had failed to report this act to the PCB and hence could not enter Dubai," PCB said, earlier in the day. "The PCB has made arrangements for Bilawal to stay at a hotel inside the Dubai airport and has applied for a new visa."

Bhatti made his international debut in a T20 against South Africa in November 2013, and has gone on to play three ODIs and two T20s.