Azharuddin Rejected for Hyderabad Cricket Association’s Prez Post

“I am sad and disappointed” said Mohammed Azharuddin on the rejection.

Mohammed Azharuddin will not be Hyderabad Cricket Association President. (Photo: IANS)

Former India captain Mohammad Azharuddin's nomination paper for the post of Hyderabad Cricket Association (HCA) president was rejected by the returning officer on Saturday.

His nomination was rejected as the BCCI didn’t respond when asked if Azharuddin’s ban for match fixing has been lifted, claimed a source in the HCA. Another source, however, said that the returning officer should have written to the Lodha Committee instead of the BCCI.

There was also the issue of whether Azharuddin is enrolled as a HCA voter or not.

Reacting to the rejection, the former Indian cricket team captain said:

I am sad and disappointed. I have been cleared by the court from all charges. The President (of Hyderabad Cricket Association) has a state cabinet rank, how on earth can he qualify as per Lodha Committee rules?

Azharuddin had filed his nomination for the top post in HCA earlier this week.

Azharuddin, who led India in three successive World Cups (1992, 1996, 1999), has been banned for life by the BCCI for his alleged involvement in the match-fixing scandal that rocked Indian cricket in 2000. After a long legal battle, Azharuddin received a favourable order from the Andhra High Court in 2011, but the BCCI is yet to officially lift his ban.

(With inputs from PTI and ANI.)