Mohammed Shami cleared by BCCI anti-corruption unit

The seamer keeps his Grade 'B' annual retainership contract.

The Supreme Court had mandated BCCI's anti-corruption unit head Neeraj Kumar to probe allegations against Mohammed Shami. Photo: AP

After being cleared by an internal probe into allegations of fixing claimes, pace bowler Mohammed Shami has been awarded a Grade B contract for 2017-18 by the Supreme Court of India-appointed Committee of Administrators (CoA). Shami's contract was withheld by CoA on March 7 since his wife had then filed a complaint against him for alleged domestic violence and adultery.

Shami's wife, Hasin Jahan, had followed up the police complaint with an allegation of Shami having “sold the country.” It had prompted CoA into seeking a report from Neeraj Kumar , the chief of BCCI's Anti-Corruption Unit till Wednesday.

“Mr Neeraj Kumar has submitted his confidential report to the CoA. Based on the conclusions in the said report, the CoA is of the view that no further actions/ proceedings under the BCCI anti-corruption code are warranted in the matter,” said a statement issued by the CoA on Thursday. “For this reason, the BCCI shall proceed with offering a Grade ‘B’ annual retainership contract to Mohd. Shami.”

Shami will thus draw the fixed annual retainer of ₹ 3 crore for the cycle between October 2017 to September 2018. While the BCCI statement makes no reference to Shami's eligibility for the Indian Premier League, Sportstar understands that the speedster will be able to don the Delhi Daredevils jersey for the tournament starting April 7.

Interestingly, while withholding Shami's contract, CoA had cited “ethical reasons” and the “Catch 22” between “personal and professional issue.”

However, despite the police investigation continuing in the case, the fast bowler has been cleared by the BCCI.