Mohammad Azharuddin to fight the HCA election for the post of President

Former India captain Mohammad Azharuddin has decided to get into cricket administration. The cricketer-cum-politician, who is the Working President of Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee has filed his papers for the post of President of the Hyderabad Cricket Association. Azhar, who played for India until 2000, was banned for life for his involvement in match-fixing after being named by Delhi police.

Hyderabad Cricket Association (HCA) will hold its elections on September 27 and Azharuddin filed his papers to former Chief Election Commissioner VS Sampath on Wednesday. His nomination was unceremoniously rejected two years ago. Vikram Man Singh, son of former cricket administrator P R Man Singh, has submitted his nomination for the vice-president’s post.

I want to promote cricket

“I want to take inputs from everybody and work for promoting cricket. I want to do something for districts also (towards the growth of cricket),” Azharuddin was quoted as saying by Times Now. It is understood that the former India and Hyderabad player has the backing of former cricketers and administrators Arshad Ayub and Shivlal Yadav.

Mohammad Azharuddin had previously applied for President’s post in 2017 as well, but his papers were rejected on the grounds that he failed to produce proof of BCCI lifting the ban imposed on him, clearing him from charges of match-fixing. The election officials were also not sure whether Azhar was even eligible to vote from the club he currently represents.

Others who have filed nominations are Ajmal Asad (secretary), P Srinivas (joint secretary), G Srinivas (treasurer) and P Anuradha (councillor). Azharuddin played 99 Tests amassing 6216 runs with 22 centuries and featured in 334 ODIs, making 9378 runs with 7 centuries to his name. He also took 105 catches in Tests and 156 catches in ODI matches.

Azharuddin, who made his Test debut in 1984, made three centuries in his first three Tests against England and is the only batsman to do so. He went on to become one of the most prolific scorers in Tests and ODI cricket and was the first batsman to make 9,000 runs in ODIs. He captained India in three World Cups- 1992,1996 and 1999 and was known for his amazing fielding at covers or in slips.

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