In a major blow to Indian fast bowler Mohammed Shami, police in Kolkata on Thursday filed a chargesheet against him under IPC 498A (dowry harassment) and 354A (sexual harassment). The chargesheet has been filed by his estranged wife Hasin Jahan.
The next date of hearing in the case has been set for 22 June, meaning that his World Cup appearance could be in serious doubt if the court refuses to give him exemption from personal appearance. Shami was recently a key part of the Indian team that took on Australia in the just-concluded ODI series that India lost 2-3.
This year’s World Cup is scheduled to be held in England and Wales this summer.
Jahan had accused her husband of extramarital affairs with a Karachi-based model while also alleging physical torture by the Indian cricketer. She had produced screenshots of Shami’s alleged conversation with his girlfriend, who, according to Jahan, he had met in Dubai. Though Hasin later made several attempts to make peace with Shami, the latter refused to reciprocate. Frustrated by her failed attempts to reconcile with Shami, Hasin had resumed her modelling career in July last year.
Shami, who recently became the fastest Indian bowler to reach 100 wickets in One Day Internationals, was India’s highest wicket-taker in the ODI series against New Zealand with nine wickets in four matches. India had gone on to win that series 4-1.
The World Cup this year will start in May with the final being scheduled for 14 July. India has its matches scheduled on 5 June against South Africa, 9 June against Australia, 13 June against New Zealand, 16 June against Pakistan, 22 June against Afghanistan, 27 June against West Indies, 30 June against England, 2 July against Bangladesh in group stages.
Hasin Jahan had recently joined the Congress in the presence of the Mumbai Congress chief Sanjay Nirupam.
Shami had recently sarcastically said that he planned to invite his wife Hasin Jahan to be ‘present’ at his second marriage. This was after Jahan alleged that he was planning to marry the ‘sister-in-law of his elder brother’ five days after Eid. She was reported to have said, “Shami wants to marry the sister-in-law of his elder brother five days after Eid and that’s why he has offered me money and asked for a divorce.
