Dhaka, Jan 14 (IANS): A Dhaka court Wednesday allowed cricketer Rubel Hossain to travel abroad to play in the forthcoming World Cup.

The order in this regard was issued in a case filed against Rubel under the Women's Oppression Act by actress Naznin Akter Happy, reports bdnews24.com.

The court of Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Rashed Talukder in its order also exempted Rubel from physical appearance during the hearings of the case.

This was in response to appeals filed by Rubel's lawyers.

The court order makes it possible for Rubel to play in the World Cup in Australia and New Zealand, starting Feb 14.

Rubel's lawyer Maniruzzaman Asad, in two separate pleas, asked that the cricketer be allowed to fly abroad to play for the country and be exempted from physical appearance at court during hearings.

The judge set Feb 2 as the date for filing the investigation report.

Neither Rubel nor Happy were present at the court during the hearing Wednesday.

Happy filed a case in Mirpur Police Station Dec 13 alleging that Rubel had engaged her in a physical relationship after promising her marriage.

But Rubel claimed that Happy was "blackmailing" him.

The High Court granted Rubel a four-week anticipatory bail Dec 15.

He appeared before the Metropolitan Magistrate's Court Jan 8 and sought an extension but the court sent him to prison instead.

Uncertainty loomed large over the paceman's participation in the World Cup.

Rubel was released from prison three days later after Metropolitan Sessions Judge Court granted his bail plea Sunday.

Happy also filed a writ petition in court Jan 5 seeking Rubel's expulsion from the Bangladesh team.

The court threw out her petition but Happy said she would file a case against the scrapping.

The Bangladesh national cricket team will fly off in January-end to Australia for the World Cup.