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New Delhi:
As the Andhra Pradesh High Court Thursday overturned the life ban
imposed on him by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI),
former India captain Mohammad Azharuddin humbly said he was
grateful to the board for whatever cricket he played.
Azharuddin said he always believed in the "almighty Allah" and his
conscience was clear during his 12-year long battle to clear his
name of the match-fixing charges.
"I am grateful to the Indian cricket board for whatever cricket I
have played. It is all because of them. I had no complaints
against the board during my playing career. I have got a lot in
life from cricket," Azharuddin told reporters at his official
residence here.
Azharuddin said he was never hurt with the BCCI's action. "I was
never hurt with their action. That was their line of thinking. I
can't blame them for that," he said.
Asked if he feels that the BCCI would not pursue the case any
longer after Pakistan also went soft on Salim Malik, a former
captain who too was banned for life, Azharuddin said: "It is tough
to say. But I think it has been a good move to bring back the
banned cricketers in the normal fold of life."
Malik's name also figured in the inquiry conducted by India's
Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) that led to life bans on
Azharuddin and Delhi cricketer Ajay Sharma.
Azharudding said he was looking forward to work with the BCCI to
develop Indian cricket.
"I am open to working with the BCCI. But it is up to them," he
said.
Azharuddin, now a Congress MP from Moradabad, Uttar Pradesh, said
he played the game honestly and was a relieved man as the court
struck down the BCCI's ban as "illegal". The BCCI Dec 5, 2000,
banned Azharuddin and Delhi cricketer Ajay Sharma for life from
playing professional cricket on charges of match-fixing.
"I have always played the game honestly and with command. Today I
am a relieved man after what I have suffered for the last 12
years. I fought this battle for so long with patience. It has been
a tough battle and I am grateful to everyone who has supported me
during this difficult period."
As soon as the news broke out, Congress party workers and fans
burst crackers at his residence near Lodhi Gardens. Amidst the
huge media presence, party colleagues and friends came with
bouquets to congratulate him. It was certainly early Diwali at
C-1/12, Lodhi Garden.
But amidst the celebrations and cracker fire, Azharuddin
remembered his younger son Ayazuddin, who died last year in a road
accident.
"The last year has been very tough. Today I want to be happy with
my elder son Abbas. I wish the judgment had come a bit early," he
said.
Asked who all from the cricket fraternity supported him during the
last 12 years, Azharuddin said: "I always got support from Raj
Singh Dungarpur, Kapil paaji and Kamal Morarka."
When the BCCI banned him, Azharuddin was left stranded on 99
Tests.
Asked if he regrets not having completed 100 Test matches,
Azharuddin said: "I think I was probably destined to play 99 Test
matches, hence played that many. I believe what has to happen,
will happen."
Azharuddin, however, regretted not having scored more than 22 Test
centuries.
"I have 22 centuries. I think the way I started with three
consecutive centuries, I should have got around 27-28 centuries.
But I have no regrets. I led the team for nine years with success.
That is how life is," he said.
The former India captain also thanked the Congress party for its
support.
"I am grateful to the party for the support. Three years ago when
I decided to join politics, they always believed in me. I didn't
know abc of elections but the party stood by me during the tough
time," he said.
Azharuddin had challenged the Indian cricket board's decision in
the Hyderabad civil court, which upheld the ban. He then moved the
Andhra Pradesh High Court against the lower court's order. His
lawyers argued that the BCCI imposed the ban without any evidence.
Azharuddin, one of India's most successful captains, played 99
Tests and scored 6,215 runs during his career. He also played 334
One-Day Internationals scoring 9,378 runs in his 15-year
international career.
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