The England cricket board's failure to get Mushtaq Ahmed's travel documents in order means the Pakistan leg-spinner, who was appointed the team's spin bowling coach, will not be travelling to India to assist Monty Panesar and company.
England take on India in two Tests after the completion of the ODI series and Ahmed's priority was to help Panesar hone his skills on the spin-friendly tracks.
But the England and Wales Cricket Board's failure to secure a work permit for the former Pakistan leg-spinner forced the board to withdraw him from the tour party, The Guardian reported.
England's performance squad will leave for a training camp in India this weekend.
The Home Office though did not reveal whether the delay was in any way linked to the criticism of Ahmed's appointment by the International Cricket Council CEO Haroon Lorgat owing to the spinner's alleged role in the 2000 match-fixing scandal.
Panesar will now have to depend on the advice of Indian spin-bowling coaches, who are yet to be named.