Mohammed Shami, India’s premier fast bowler has landed in a hot water with an allegation of multiple extra-marital affairs and domestic violence levelled at him by his wife Hasin Jahan. An enquiry is now underway against Shami after screenshots of his alleged conversations with a host of women were put up in the public domain by his wife. To make matter worse for Shami, BCCI has also decided to put his name on hold from the list of players awarded the central contracts till the investigation against him are over. While the fast bowler did come out and responded with a complete denial of the charges, the Kolkata police are now in charge of the matter and both the parties will be called in to register their statements.

Hasin Jahan has claimed that Shami has been involved with women both in India and abroad and met them in different hotels while on tours. Few of the women are even from Pakistan is what his now-estranged wife has claimed. Jahan has also stated that she was physically assaulted after the tour of South Africa and it was only after she got hold off Shami’s phone and saw the scandalous messages exchanged with several women that she decided to come out with her ordeal. While cricketers getting their name involved in sex scandals is not new but this dark side of their persona does leave fans shell-shocked. Let us look at a few names who were embroiled in controversy.

1. Shane Warne: The legendary spinner has time and again courted controversy with a string of scandals with his off-field antics. Warne was involved with two young British models just before his side Hampshire’s game against Middlesex in 2006. Images of Warne with the two women went viral along with the interview of the two in which they praised the spinner for his 'fitness.' Shane Warne has also been accused of having affairs with English student Laura Sayers and mother of three Kerrie Colliemore which resulted in him getting separated from his wife Simone. Warne also paid for his faulty ways by getting removed from the post of vice-captain after British nurse Donna Wright was at the wrong end of Warne's lewd messages and phone calls.

Shahid Afridi: The Pathan from Pakistan was caught in a hotel room in Karachi with a group of young women but claimed innocence by calling them fans and was subsequently dropped from the team. Another story emerged with Indian model Arshi Khan claiming she slept with Afridi and that the Indian media need not worry about her personal life. Boom Boom on his part did not respond to her claims and chose to ignore the stories.

Andre Nel: The maverick South African fast bowler cheated on his wife by having an affair with blonde Jelena Kultiasova. He never revealed to the Latvian women about his marriage to her and the woman found out about his marital status in 2010 by searching for him online. Strange in every manner, she did come out in the open about the relationship.

Chris Gayle: Gayle has had his fair share of controversies in the past with passing lewd comments on Australian anchor Mel McLaughlin during a live interview to harassing a female hotel staff in the 2015 world Cup by flashing his genitals. The Jamaican has also been accused of his involvement with three British women who were caught leaving his hotel room during the T20 World Cup in Sri Lanka in 2012.

Asad Rauf: Well he may be one of the cricket's most controversial umpire with his involvement in spot-fixing, the ex ICC panel umpire was also involved in a racy affair with an Indian model. The 21-year-old model Leena Kapoor claimed they both loved each other and that she had been exploited by Asad Rauf who promised to marry her. Several intimate pictures of the two surfaced on media and made matters worse for the 56-year-old Pakistani umpire.

The power and money that the cricketers possess make for a dangerous cocktail that sometimes gives them the liberty to carry out the unethical practices. It is for the fans to introspect and not depict them as demigods who are free from the ills of the society.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Mar 08, 2018 04:54 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).