Md Shami’s US visa rejected, later cleared after BCCI request
Xtra Time Web Desk: Indian speedster Mohammed Shami’s scheduled trip to the Caribbean could have been jeopardized due to visa problems. Shami, who has been picked for the Indian ODI and test team for the tour of West Indies, had his US visa rejected on grounds of his existing police record on charges of domestic violence and adultery.
But a timely intervention from BCCI CEO Rahul Johri finally got him the clearance to travel to the Caribbean via US. The US Embassy cleared his visa only after receiving a letter from BCCI CEO, stating his achievements for the country and furnishing the full police report about his marital discord with estranged wife Hasin Jahan.
It is learnt that the Indian players got their visas under P1 category (granted to members of internationally recognised foreign team of athletes). Shami was supposed to travel to the Caribbean via Miami along with the ODI cricketers.
In early 2018, Shami and his estranged wife 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.
The Indian T20I team will be leaving for Florida from Mumbai on July 29. Virat and his boys will play two T20I’s against West Indies at Fort Lauderdale on August 03 & 04. They will next travel to Guyana to play the final T20I on August 06 followed by the first ODI on August 08.
The second and third ODI’s will be played at the Queens Park Oval in Port of Spain on August 11 & 14 respectively. Team India will also play two test matches in Antigua (August 22-26) and Jamaica (August 30-September 03).
