The US visa of Indian pacer Mohammed Shami, who is part of the India squad for the upcoming West Indies tour, got rejected initially because of his existing police record and charges of domestic violence. However, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) intervened to get the issue sorted and eventually the visa was given to the fast bowler.
Speaking to IANS, a senior BCCI functionary said that Shami’s visa had been rejected due to the police records after the family problems that the player had gone through, but the board wrote to the embassy and the matter was cleared.
“There was some issue with the police verification part as he was involved in a problem with his wife. But the BCCI then wrote to the embassy and the matter was sorted,” the functionary said.
Last year, Shami and his estranged wife Hasin Jahan separated after the latter accused her husband for adultery and domestic violence. Jahan filed an FIR against Shami in Kolkata. Their divorce case is currently sub-judice.
Talking about Team India’s upcoming tour to the Caribbean Islands, the Indian cricket team takes off from Mumbai for US on 29 July where they will be playing two T20Is against West Indies in Lauderhill, Florida before proceeding with the rest of the West Indies tour.
Although Shami has not been picked for the T20Is, he still needed to apply for the US visa as the team was to return back home via US after completing the second test in Jamaica.
(With inputs from IANS)