Reports | BCCI step in after United States initially reject Mohammed Shami's visa

The Indian Cricket Team and Mohammed Shami have avoided major embarrassment ahead of the team's limited-overs series against the Windies after the pacer saw his visa initially getting rejected by the United States government, according to reports. The 29-year-old was left red-faced when the US Government rejected his visa due to past police records but was eventually rescued after BCCI CEO Rahul Johri wrote a letter to the US Embassy clarifying everything in detail.

Indian players got their visas under P1 category (granted to members of the internationally recognised foreign team of athletes), but Shami, who has an existing police record with charges of domestic violence and adultery due to a feud with his wife, saw his visa getting withheld, before finally getting cleared after Johri's intervention. 

“Yes, Shami’s visa application was initially rejected by the US embassy. It was found that his police verification record was incomplete. However now it has been sorted and all the required documents have been furnished,” an anonymous BCCI source was quoted as saying by PTI. 

“Once the visa application got rejected, CEO Rahul Johri wrote a letter of request, citing Shami’s achievements including participation in multiple World Cups. Also the documents were furnished,” the source added.

Despite not being a part of the T20I squad, Shami will travel along with the team to Florida for the first T20I, and then to Guyana, where the first ODI will be played on August 6th.