Speedster Mohammed Shami, in all likelihood, will find himself back in the list of centrally contracted players if the report filed by the BCCI's Anti Corruption Unit (ACU) head Neeraj Kumar absolves him from any wrongdoing as per the Board's Code of Ethics.
The Board feels that allegations of domestic violence levelled by Shami's wife Hasin Jahan are completely under police jurisdiction and they have nothing to do with it.
"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," a senior BCCI official said on Friday.
The official made it clear that BCCI would not like to judge Shami on incidents related to his personal life.
"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 board doesn't have the powers to do so," the official, who is well acquainted with the judicial process, made it clear.
Asked what if the Kolkata Police arrests Shami, he replied: "It is a hypothetical situation. We can't sit here and pre-empt what the police authorities would be doing. It is not our job. You never know how long the investigations might take. We will cross the bridge when it comes," he said.
Once Neeraj Kumar's report comes out, the onus will be on Delhi Daredevils to decide on Shami's participation in the Indian Premier league.
Since IPl is an inter-club tournament, the franchise has to decide whether they want to play Shami.
"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," IPl Governing Council Chairman Rajiv Shukla said.
"I am sure the matter will be sorted. It's a personal thing (of Shami) and I don't wish to comment," CAB president Sourav Ganguly said. Shami plays for Bengal in domestic cricket.
‘No decision on IPl’
Troubled pacer Mohammed Shami's participation in the upcoming Indian Premier league (IPl) will depend on the findings of BCCI's Anti Corruption Unit (ACU) chief Neeraj Kumar, acting president CK Khanna said on Friday.
The Committee of Administrators (CoA) chief Vinod Rai has instructed Kumar to investigate the corruption allegations by cricketer's wife Hasin Jahan that Shami took money from a UK-based businessman through a Pakistani woman.
"Since ACU chief Neeraj Kumar is investigating and has been given a seven-day time frame, any decision will be taken after he submits his report. The final decision will be taken by the CoA," acting president Khanna said on the sidelines of the IPl Governing Council meeting.
Shami was picked by Delhi Daredevils for Rs three crore.
The BCCI has already withheld Shami's central contract in the wake of Jahan's allegations of domestic violence and infidelity against the pacer.
Among other decisions at the Governing Council meeting, Rs 18 crore were earmarked for organising the IPl opening ceremony. "The finance team of BCCI has decided that Rs 18 crore will be spent on the opening ceremony even though the sanctioned budget was Rs 30 crore," Khanna said.
The IPl Play-off matches have been awarded to Pune while Rajkot and the newly-built stadium in lucknow have been kept on stand by in case any centre faces any difficulty.
Kings XI Punjab has already asked for a shift of their matches during a particular phase when the Chandigarh airport will be closed for repair work.
During the opening ceremony on April 7 all the eight IPl captains will be present unlike in the past. Usually, captains playing on the following day of the ceremony miss the ceremony.
The BCCI has also decided to enter into an agreement with the Tata Trust for a social cause of earlier screening of cancer drive.