Mumbai: Former Indian spinner, Arshad Ayub, who was renounced as the outcome of Lodha Committee reforms paved way for former skipper Mohammed Azharuddin’s ‘Cricket Politics’.
The former India captain filed his nomination for the post of president of the Hyderabad Cricket Association. “I am on way to the HCA office,” Azhar told The Hindu on Tuesday, implies that he is heading with conviction and optimism towards the cricket administration.
“Problem with Hyderabad was that cricket was not focus. We were second last in Ranji. My basic intention is to see that cricket in Hyderabad flourishes. I really want to do well for cricket. We cannot run the HCA on the whims and fancies of individuals,” Azharuddin said after filing his nomination in Hyderabad.
“I want to improve cricket at the district level because lot of hardworking players come from districts.We have produced so many great players but now we don’t have players in the Indian team. My intention is to work hard for the game of cricket,” he added.
“Yes, I was informed that Azhar came with his supporters to file
nomination for HCA elections. He had an order from a lower court which allows him to contest election. Normally, HCA elections are held on last Sunday of May but Azhar has got an order which says it would be held on January 17,” HCA Secretary John Manoj told PTI.
Azharuddin, who was also a Lok Sabha MP from the Congress party, startled everyone with his debut in Team India, with a speedy recognition of a national hero by scoring 3 consecutive centuries in his first 3 Test innings.
However, with the same speed, he also garnered criticism. He was banned for life by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) for his alleged involvement in the match-fixing scandal that was unearthed in 2000. Azhar fought the decision in the Andhra Pradesh High Court and got a favourable decision in 2011. However, the BCCI never officially lifted the ban. He never got the pension that former India players are entitled to.
(With inputs from PTI)