Morne Morkel's India Arrival Delayed Due To Visa Issues

Morne Morkel, India's bowling coach, has faced a delay in his arrival in New Delhi due to visa issues. However, sources indicate that he is expected to join the team soon, ahead of their T20I series against Afghanistan.

The delay in Morkel's arrival raised eyebrows during a preparatory session at the Arun Jaitley Stadium on Thursday. Sources close to the matter revealed that the delay was solely due to visa-related issues.

In other news, physiotherapist Kamlesh Jain is set to leave the national team. Jain's absence from the squad's training session in the national capital sparked speculation about his future with the team. Sources suggest that he will be leaving the team shortly.

Jain has previously worked with the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) as their head physiotherapist and with the Bengal senior men's domestic team. He may potentially return to working with an IPL franchise, including a possible reunion with KKR.

The BCCI is expected to begin the process of finding Jain's replacement soon. This development comes after fielding coach T Dilip and assistant coach Ryan ten Doeschate ended their respective stints with the national side after the tour of England.

Ten Doeschate has since moved back to Knight Riders Sports as Head of Cricket Strategy, where he is in charge of player recruitment and squad planning. He also serves in assistant coaching roles in the CPL, ILT20, and MLC.

In other squad developments, star fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah will join the Indian team late on Thursday evening after being cleared by the Centre of Excellence (CoE). Ishan Kishan, Tilak Varma, and young batter Vaibhav Sooryavanshi will also arrive in the national capital later in the evening to link up with the rest of the squad.

The first T20I is slated to take place as per the original schedule on Sunday. The DDCA clarified that there was no change in the date, despite reports suggesting that the opening game could be rescheduled due to security arrangements for the high-profile BRICS summit in the national capital.

The Indian team is gearing up for their T20I series against Afghanistan, and the arrival of Morkel and other players is expected to boost their preparations. With the series just around the corner, the team will be looking to fine-tune their strategy and make the necessary adjustments to take on the Afghan team.

The departure of Jain and the expected exit of other support staff members may lead to some changes in the team's dynamics. However, the BCCI is expected to find suitable replacements to ensure that the team's preparations are not affected.

In conclusion, the Indian team is facing some challenges ahead of their T20I series against Afghanistan, including the delay in Morkel's arrival and the departure of Jain. However, with the arrival of key players and the expected appointment of new support staff members, the team is expected to be well-prepared for the series.