Kolkata: Former Indian cricket captain Mohammad Azharuddin’s dream to enter the field of administration has been shattered after the Hyderabad Cricket Association (HCA) rejected his nomination to contest for the post of president. According to a report in The Indian Express, his nomination has been cancelled since HCA hasn’t received any clearance from the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) as to whether it has lifted the ban on Azharuddin.
The BCCI had banned the cricketer-turned-politician for life in 2000 for his involvement in match-fixing. Though the Andhra Pradesh High Court had struck down the ban, the BCCI however hasn’t officially lifted it. According to former HCA president Arshad Ayub, Azhar doesn’t fulfill the criteria to contest. “Yes, Azhar has filed his nomination before the returning officer but the HCA hasn’t received any confirmation from the BCCI, saying that his life ban is lifted,” Ayub was quoted by The Indian Express.
“I think he needs the BCCI clearance for his nomination to be accepted. Also, a by-law of the HCA constitution says that to contest for the post of president, one has to serve at least one term as an executive council member and another term as an office-bearer. Azhar doesn’t fulfil that as well,” Ayub added.
Azharuddin, however expressed disappointment over the rejection of his nomination. “I have been cleared by the court from all charges,” the former Indian cricketer who represented India in 99 Test matches said. In the wake of the Supreme Court appointed Lodha Committee that is determined to clean the affairs of the board, it is quite unlikely that tainted personalities will get an opportunity to hold coveted posts either in the BCCI or in any state association.
As of now, the going gets tougher for Azharuddin, who along with other former Indian Test captains was felicitated by the BCCI under Anurag Thakur on the occasion of India’s 500th Test match in Kanpur last year. But with Thakur no longer at the helm, it’s a different picture now and the HCA rejection is a jolt for Azhar.