BCCI clears Mohammad Azharuddin for HCA elections

Not a lot of cricketers would have experienced as many highs and lows in their life and career as Mohammad Azharuddin. The former middle-order batsman had a dream start to his international career. He has scored a century in each of his first three matches. The elegant batsman is known to have had one of the best wrists in the game. Later, he was appointed the captain of the Indian team. He is also one of the most successful captains of his times.

However, not all stories end on a high. His career ended abruptly when he was accused of match-fixing; shattering his dreams of playing 100 Tests for India. He was left stranded on 99 Tests and the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) imposed a life ban on him. Azhar was the first player to have been banned due match-fixing.

The HCA elections

In 2012, the High Court of Andhra Pradesh has revoked the ban imposed on him terming it as ‘unsustainable’. In 2013, the BCCI wanted to challenge the High Court’s decision. But ultimately, they decided not to go against the order. Azhar wants to contribute his best in the field of cricket.

He had written a letter to the BCCI to consider him for a respectable position in the ICC/BCCI or its affiliated state association. He wanted to contest in the HCA elections in 2017. But, there have been some ugly feuds between him and the association regarding his candidature. As a result, Azhar was not allowed to contest in the elections back then.

He said that he was denied the chance to contest for the President’s post in 2017. Also, he quoted that all sorts of false allegations were being made against him. He has been battling hard to prove his eligibility to contest in the HCA elections recently. The HCA has sought clarification from the BCCI over Azhar’s qualification to contest in the elections.

The BCCI has stressed that Azhar wasn’t debarred from contesting the polls. The board has also stated that it won’t express any view on whether he is otherwise qualified or disqualified from participating in the election. It stated that it is not for BCCI to examine or advise on the eligibility or non-eligibility of a person seeking to contest elections to state associations.