India fast bowler Mohammed Shami on Friday told India TV that he would never fix matches for money and wants the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) to thoroughly investigate the fixing allegations levelled against him by his wife Hasin Jahan. Shami said he has full faith in the board that it will do justice to him.
Jahan has alleged that Shami had taken money from a Pakistani woman named Alishba on the insistence of an England-based businessman, Mohammad Bhai. She had also filed a police complaint against the pacer, alleging infidelity and domestic violence, which had resulted in the BCCI withholding Shami's central contract.
Shami said he has full faith in the BCCI that it will investigate the entire matter and deliver justice.
"The BCCI is already looking into the matter. They are investigating it at the highest level. I want all these allegations to be investigated thoroughly. These things hurt me. I have forever played with all my heart and will continue to do so," Shami told India TV.
Shami said he will never fix matches for money.
"I am from a middle-class family and have struggled a lot in life. I have never run after money. I have full faith in the BCCI that it will carry out a proper investigation and the justice will be delivered to me," he said.
Following the corruption allegations, BCCI's Committee of Administrator (CoA) chief Vinod Rai instructed the board's Anti-Corruption Unit (ACU) chief Neeraj Kumar to look into the matter.
"The Committee of Administrators is concerned only with such portion of the said audio recording in which the person who it is claimed is Md. Shami is heard saying another person by the name of 'Mohammad Bhai' had sent money to Md. Shami through a Pakistani lady by the name of 'Alishba'," the CoA said in a letter to Neeraj Kumar, the head of the BCCI's anti-corruption unit.
"Please investigate the above assertions/allegations under the BCCI Anti-Corruption Code and submit a report to the Committee of Administrators with your findings as to whether there is any basis to proceed further in terms thereof. The investigation should cover (i) the identity and antecedents of "Mohammad Bhai" and "Alishba"; (ii) whether any money was in fact sent by the said Mohammad Bhai through the said Alishba to Md. Shami; and (iii) if yes, the purpose for which the said money was received by Md. Shami," the letter added.
Shami's participation in the upcoming Indian Premier League (IPL) will also depend on the findings of BCCI's Anti Corruption Unit.
