Pacer Mehjoor Ali Sofi has been given the No Objection Certificate (NOC) needed to get a visa to play in county cricket in the UK after being refused the document following the intervention of Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti.
The 25-year-old cricketer was denied the NOC by Iqbal Shah, General Secretary, Jammu and Kashmir Cricket Association (JKCA) on May 3 because of alleged internal politics in the association.
The budding player was given the NOC late Saturday evening after the CM intervened in the matter.
An official in the Chief Minister's Office (CMO) said the personal intervention of Mehbooba Mufti led to the cricketer getting the document.
"As soon as the Chief Minister came to know about it, she intervened in the matter and ensured that Sofi is not denied an opportunity to further his career in England," official said.
He said the Chief Minister was keen that the cricketer should play in county cricket and made sure he got the necessary document.
"She asked us to help and support Sofi in every possible way to make him realise his dream," the official said.
"I got the NOC from JKCA after Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti personally intervened in the matter," Sofi said.
The cricketer, who has represented Jammu and Kashmir in one Ranji Trophy, four list A and five T20 matches, said he was called by the CMO for a meeting at her residence.
"I went there and met her staff. I gave them a full account of what had happened, after which they called up JKCA president and state Sports Minister Imran Reza Ansari. The JKCA president told me to get the letter from JKCA office.