Reports: Mohammed Shami to be included in the central contract list

After all the negativity that surrounds the life of India pacer Mohammed Shami in few recent days, he can finally breathe a sigh of relief. The reason being the possibility for the pacer to be inducted back into the central contract list in Indian cricket under BCCI. Earlier his contract was withheld by the board pertaining to the allegations made by his wife.

For Shami, now all depends on the report of the investigation that has already been undertaken by the board’s Anti- Corruption Unit (ACU) that is headed by Neeraj Kumar. The answer to the questions that loom around Shami’s future with the Indian cricket and doubts over his participation in the forthcoming IPL season would come to rest in the span of 4-5 days just after the submission of the report.

Would return to the fold, if not guilty

As per the latest developments from the board, all rests on ACU’s investigation which if gives him a clean chit and claims the cricketer to be not guilty for any of the allegations imposed, he would be handed back his Central contract. “The brief is pretty clear. The BCCI’s handbook has an ‘Ethics Code’ for cricketers with a specific clause regarding financial transactions.

The ACU is only investigating Shami’s dealings with Mohammed Bhai and Alishba and the alleged monetary exchange his wife is talking about. If Kumar’s report absolves Shami of any wrongdoing, he will be immediately handed back his Central Contract,” said a senior BCCI official

As per the BCCI officials, they have no right to interfere with his personal life and the allegations made on him by his wife are under the police jurisdictions and they have nothing to do with it. It was made very clear, “Yes, there are specific allegations levelled against him by his wife. But the Kolkata Police is doing its job and it’s completely their domain. In BCCI, we can’t sit back on judgement on personal life and take away his livelihood. Also, the board doesn’t have the powers to do so,” the official told DNA.

Questions over his participation in IPL

It is believed that the report to be submitted by Neeraj Kumar’s unit would decide Shami’s participation in the IPL. The franchise concerned, Delhi Daredevils, in this case, would have to take a stand on whether they wish to play him given it is an Inter-club tournament.

Sharing his vies on the same issue, IPL chairman Rajiv Shukla said, “We have decided that we will go by the report submitted by ACU chief Neeraj Kumar. Based on recommendations, a final decision will be taken. We have nothing to do with anybody’s private life. If he gets a clean chit, then he can play. If he doesn’t, then he won’t. This is what we have decided. The report will come in next four-five days, till then we will wait for the report.”

Watch our interview with Jhulan Goswami

Catch more developments on this and top lead ‘cricket news‘ on CricTracker