CONTRACT TROUBLES

Shami offered Grade B contract as corruption investigation ends

by Cricbuzz Staff • Last updated on

Mohammed Shami will earn INR 3 crores per year as per the new retainer model. © Getty

Mohammed Shami has been handed a Grade B annual contract by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) after investigation by the Anti Corruption Unit (ACU) revealed no wrongdoing on the fast bowlers part with regards to breaches of the board's code. Shami's annual contract was withheld when the list of centrally-contracted players was revealed on March 10 owing to reports of domestic trouble.

Shami's wife, Hasin Jahan, had accused the India cricketer of having extra-marital affairs, resorting to domestic violence including an attempt to murder. While filing a criminal complaint with the Kolkata police, she also insisted that Shami had made claims to her that he collected money from a British national, Mohammed bhai, sent through a Pakistani woman.

Subsequently, the Committee of Administrators had requested Neeraj Kumar, former Police Commissioner of Delhi and Head of BCCI's ACU, to investigate the allegations against Shami pertaining to the provisions of the BCCI Anti-Corruption Code.

"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," stated the BCCI release, dated March 22.

With his name now cleared of the corruption allegations, BCCI has decided to reinstate Shami's Grade B annual contract - which will see him pocket a sum of INR 3 crores as his annual retainer fee during the time frame October 1, 2017 to September 30, 2018.

Shami retains his grade structure (B) from the 2016-17 cycle but BCCI's revised payout model will see the 28-year-old pocket an additional 2 crores per year from his previous contract value.

While the criminal charges levied by his wife remain to be investigated, the latest development could come as relief for Shami, whose participation in the forthcoming season of the IPL had been in serious doubt due to the controversy cloud. He was signed up by Delhi Daredevils for INR 3 crore at the recent player auction after the franchise decided to use one of their Right To Match (RTM) cards to retain Shami's services.

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