BCCI saves Shami from US Visa rejection embarrassment

Washington : Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) saved Mohammad Shami from a major embarrassment of becoming the first cricketer who might have not got the US visa due to faulty police records.

US embassy had initially rejected the VISA application of the Indian speedster Mohammad Shami after his police verification records were found incomplete. Shami has been charge-sheeted by Kolkata police under Section 498A (dowry harassment) and 354A (sexual harassment) based on FIR filed by estranged wife Hasin Jahan, last year.

Learning about the development, BCCI officials intervened and presented his achievement to the US embassy officials and also the case details that changed the course and Shami was then allowed a US visa.

On July 29, Indian team will be leaving for the US where they will be playing  two T20's against West Indies in Lauderhill, Florida before proceeding with the rest of the West Indies tour.

Although Shami has not been picked for the T20's, he still needed to apply for US visas as the team was to return home via US after completing the second test in Jamaica.