The dark world of crime is something which always intrigues people and attracts their attention. And when it involves celebrities – especially cricketers – the interest of people is hiked all-the-more.
The recent controversy surrounding Mohammed Shami has also raised many eyebrows. The matter is still under investigation but stories pertaining to it have caught the public eye. Over the years, we have had several such incidences which have not only grabbed the headlines but also cast a negative impact on the image of the cricketer concerned. Let us have a look at five such criminal cases which were widely reported.
1) Rubel Hossain
Two months prior to the 2015 World Cup, Bangladeshi pacer Rubel Hossain was charged with rape by actress Naznin Akter Happy. Happy filed a complaint against Hossain –who was part of the 15-member Bangladeshi squad for the 2015 World Cup – of ‘rape’ and a ‘false promise of marriage’.
As a result, Hossain was arrested but later granted bail until the end of the World Cup. However, following the right-armer’s match-winning performance against England in the World Cup, Happy withdrew the charges.
2) Navjot Singh Sidhu
In 2006, former Indian opener Navjot Singh Sidhu was convicted by the Punjab and Haryana High Court following a scuffle which claimed the life of Gurnam Singh, a resident of Patiala. In an FIR registered in 1988, it was alleged that Navjot Sidhu and Bhupinder Singh Sandhu smashed Gurnam Singh after dragging him out of his car.
Both Sidhu and Sandhu were sentenced to three-year imprisonment, accompanied by a fine of ₹1 lakh. Subsequently, Sidhu appealed against the High court verdict in the Supreme Court, which suspended the previous judgment in 2007.
3) Yuvraj Singh
Akanksha Sharma, the alienated wife of Zorawar Singh – brother of Yuvraj Singh – named her husband, mother-in-law Shabnam Singh and brother-in-law Yuvraj Singh in a domestic violence petition filed last year.
Akanksha, who was also a contestant of the TV show Big Boss 10, accused Yuvraj of being a ‘mute spectator’ while her husband and mother-in-law inflicted ‘mental and financial torture’ upon her. However, no FIR was lodged against the southpaw in this matter.
4) Ben Stokes
Following a late night brawl in Bristol, Ben Stokes was charged with affray after CCTV footage surfaced in which Stokes could be clearly seen punching a man repeatedly. In the aftermath of this incident, the all-rounder had to sit out of the entire Ashes followed by the ODI and T20I series against Australia.
The ECB granted Stokes permission to play for England only after the 26-year-old pleaded ‘not guilty’ before the court. He made a comeback for his national side in the ODI series against New Zealand.
5) Mohammed Shami
The recent controversy in which Mohammed Shami’s wife, Hasin Jahan has charged him of rape, domestic violence and attempt to murder, has certainly tarnished his public image. Jahan has alleged that Shami has extra-marital affairs with several women and has been torturing her for a long time.
The Kolkata police have lodged an FIR against the fast bowler and are investigating the matter. As a precautionary measure the BBCI has kept Shami’s name on hold on the renewed contract list. His IPL franchise Delhi Daredevils are also keeping a close eye on the matter and awaiting BCCI’s legal opinion before taking further action.