Pak woman admits meeting Shami, refutes monetary dealing claims

New Delhi, March 19

The controversy surrounding Mohammed Shami took another turn on Monday as a Pakistani woman, Alishba, admitted meeting him in Dubai but refuted any monetary dealings with the India pacer as claimed by his wife. Alishba’s name surfaced in the controversy after Shami’s wife Hasin Jahan alleged that he was possibly in a relationship with the Pakistani woman.

“Yes, I met him. I am a frequent flyer to Dubai because my sister stays in Sharjah. As a person, I really like Shami. Like other fans, who always dream of meeting their idols, I had the desire to meet Shami, which I don’t think is a big deal,” Alishba told an Indian news channel.

Shami had been booked under various non-bailable, including attempt to murder, and bailable sections after his wife lodged a complaint of domestic violence and infidelity against him. Hasin then hinted that her husband may have been involved in match-fixing in view of his alleged relationship with women from Pakistan and Dubai, which had prompted Committee of Administrators (CoA) chief Vinod Rai to ask BCCI’s anti-corruption body to submit a report in a week’s time.

“Alishba is a Pakistani citizen and Shami had claimed that she gave him money. I have never been told by Shami for what purpose the money was given. I don’t know but if he can fraud me, he can fraud the country too,” Hasin had said in one of her interviews.

Alishba, however, claimed she and Shami were just friends. “I am one of Shami’s followers (on Twitter), which is how I became his friend. He has lakhs of followers, and I am one among those normal fans. I have sent him messages,” she said. She has also denied knowing UK-based Mohammad Bhai or entering a hotel — as alleged by Hasin — with Shami. “No, I directly went to my sister’s house. However, I visited the hotel next morning at around 9 am and had breakfast with him,” she said.

“I personally don’t know Mohammed Bhai and have nothing to do with him and there was no money transaction between us. The person who does not even lie to anyone, how he can be disloyal to his country,” Alishba said.

Earlier in the day, Hasin gave a confidential statement to a magistrate at Kolkata’s Alipore court in connection with the charges she brought against the cricketer. After she emerged from the court, Hasin went to the residence of Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee to submit a written plea to meet her. — PTI