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[hastalavistababy]

 
 
 http://ia.rediff.com/cricket/2006/apr/23azhar.htm


Azhar wants to clear fixing smear
Samiul Hasan | April 23, 2006 13:21 IST


Mohammad Azharuddin has said he has given up hopes of playing for India but was fighting his case in the court of law to get his name cleared from match-fixing.

"I have no hopes of playing for India. But I want to get my name cleared. I am expecting that the final hearing of my case will be in May before the judgment is announced," Azharuddin said.

Match Fixing: Complete Coverage

Azhar was slapped with a life ban while Manoj Prabhakar, also involved in the scandal, was banned for five years in 2000. The court has already exonerated Ajay Jadeja who was earlier banned for life by the Board of Control for Cricket in India.

The former India captain, however, refused to comment on whether he was made a scapegoat by the BCCI.

"The matter is sub-judice and I cannot comment on that but I firmly believe that the whole issue was blown out of proportion," Azhar, who is in Karachi to play the veterans' cup said.

"I was destined to play 99 Tests, that's the way I look at it. If I can play 99 Tests, I could have played one more," he said when asked if he was deliberately prevented by the BCCI from achieving a personal milestone.

However, Azharuddin, a veteran of 99 Tests and 334 one-day internationals, said he cannot be banned from cricketing activities.

"I don't need any permission from anyone to play charity or veteran's cricket. I cannot play in BCCI or ICC approved or sanctioned tournaments. Veterans' cricket is a different body that is neither controlled nor governed by the BCCI or ICC," Azharuddin said.

"No constitution in the world can stop me from my earning my livelihood and cricket is my livelihood."

Azhar said coaching option remained open for him but at the moment he was concentrating on his business.

"I can remain associated with cricket in whichever capacity I want because the embargo is on playing cricket and not on coaching or doing commentary. I have worked for a television channel in the past and if I get a good offer, I would do it again," Azharuddin said with reference to ICC's decision of not giving him accredition as commentator during the 2003 ICC Champions Trophy held in Sri Lanka.

Azhar said he was happy to be back in Pakistan. "My last visit to Pakistan was in 1997 and it's a nice opportunity to visit friends, relatives and play cricket with those I have played before."

Azhar admitted that too much cricket was being played now as compared to when he was wearing the India cap.

"The demands of cricket have increased. It is taxing for the cricketers but cricket hasn't changed much I think.

[Sahir]

Former Indian captain speaks out
'I want to clear my name from match-fixing' - Azhar
Cricinfo staff
April 23, 2006

Mohammad Azharuddin, the legendary Indian batsman, has said he has given up hopes of playing for India but was fighting his case in the court of law to get his name cleared from match-fixing.

"I have no hopes of playing for India. But I want to get my name cleared," Azharuddin was quoted as saying in Press Trust of India. "I am expecting that the final hearing of my case will be in May before the judgment is announced."

Azhar was slapped with a life ban while Manoj Prabhakar, the former Indian fast bowler also involved in the scandal, was banned for five years in 2000. The court exonerated Ajay Jadeja who was earlier banned for life by the Indian board.

Azhar however, refused to comment on whether he was made a scapegoat by the BCCI. "The matter is sub-judice and I cannot comment on that," Azhar said. "But I firmly believe that the whole issue was blown out of proportion. I was destined to play 99 Tests, that's the way I look at it. If I can play 99 Tests, I could have played one more," he said when asked if he was deliberately prevented by the BCCI from achieving a personal milestone.

However, Azhar, 43, said he cannot be banned from cricketing activities. "I don't need any permission from anyone to play charity or veteran's cricket. I cannot play in BCCI or ICC approved or sanctioned tournaments. Veterans' cricket is a different body that is neither controlled nor governed by the BCCI or ICC."

Meanwhile the Pakistan Senior Cricket Board (PSCB) gave a new twist to the Veteran Cup controversy, claiming it was the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) which allowed Azharuddin and Manoj Prabhakar to play in Pakistan. Fawad Ijaz, the PSCB president and chief executive, told a news conference that the "Pakistan High Commission granted visas to the entire Indian cricket team, including Azharuddin and Prabakar, to travel to Pakistan for the one-day matches on the advice of the PCB.

"When we applied for the no-objection certificate with the PCB, the names of the Indian team were clearly stated. The PCB issued us the NOC on the basis of which the Indians were issued visas in New Delhi," Ijaz said. "Issuing of the NOC, followed up New Delhi granting visas clarifies that the entire Indian team is here with the permission and knowledge of the PCB."

Ijaz's remark came in the wake of Shaharyar Khan, the PCB chairman, disassociating his establishment from Azharuddin and Prabhakar's visit. "The senior cricket board is operating on their own and they have invited Azharuddin and Prabhakar," Shaharyar had said. "The senior board is not affiliated with the PCB so they are holding this series on their own."

The veterans' cricket board of India today came out in support of Azharuddin and Prabhakar, saying both were technically eligible to take part in the veterans' tournament against Pakistan. Chetan Chauhan, former cricketer and President of Board for Veteran Cricket in India, said: "Prabhakar's five-year ban is over and Azharuddin is banned from playing Test and first class cricket. Veterans' cricket does not fall under any of these two categories. So both are eligible to play.

"The veterans' series is more of a friendly one to improve relationship between the two countries. Since Azharuddin is playing all sorts of festival cricket, there is no harm in his participation in it,"

However, Chauhan refused to draw any comparison between Malik, who was prevented from taking part in the series, and the two Indian players. "Salim Malik's case is different, "he said. "In their country, Justice Qayoom Commission has banned him from all forms of cricket. So he is not eligible to play veterans' cricket."

© Cricinfo

http://content-usa.cricinfo.com/ci/content/story/245150.html

[dextrous]

In US, at least corrupt folks admit it and ask for forgiveness. In India, they just keep coming back and denying. No such thing as an apology.

[Sahir]

In US, at least corrupt folks admit it and ask for forgiveness. In India, they just keep coming back and denying. No such thing as an apology.

Not quite-- I'm guessing you are not familiar with the Pete Rose saga in baseball?

[gouravk]

I still pray that Azhar is indeed innocent and that his name is cleared.

[dextrous]

In US, at least corrupt folks admit it and ask for forgiveness. In India, they just keep coming back and denying. No such thing as an apology.

Not quite-- I'm guessing you are not familiar with the Pete Rose saga in baseball?

I was thinking of Ryan Cunningham and some other Republican congressmen that have been caught and have confessed. Of course, there are excpetions like Tom deLay. But Azhar knows it is hard to prove anything in Indian courts and the case will drag on for years and gets maximum mileage out of that situation.

[Sahir]

In US, at least corrupt folks admit it and ask for forgiveness. In India, they just keep coming back and denying. No such thing as an apology.

Not quite-- I'm guessing you are not familiar with the Pete Rose saga in baseball?

Pete Rose is the all time leader in most career hits in baseball.  He is yet to get inducted into the Hall of Fame and has received a lifetime ban for gambling on baseball while playing and managing.  There are even betting slips with his handwriting on them, indicating wins and losses, yet Rose maintains his innocence till this day.  He has opened up an autograph shop just nearby in Cooperstown, where the baseball Hall of Fame is located.  Incidentally, he remains a compulsive gambler to this day, according to several published reports.

[Sahir]

Of course, in current times in baseball, there is the whole steroids saga.  Despite major players like Barry Bonds and Jason Giambi being found on the clientele list of the now infamous Balco Laboratories, producers of designer steroids, the two never really admitted taking steroids, just "vitamins" and unknown stuff, trusting their trainers.  Furthermore, Rafael Palmeiro, another huge star, emphatically testified under oath before Congress, that he nad never, repeat never taken steroids in his life.  Less than six months later, he tested positive for steroids.  The man perjured himself, a felony, yet refuses to admit anything till this day.  It happens everywhere.

[jaat69]

He was a terrific batsman though!

[gouravk]

ooo yeah that he was ... he could hold you awestruck for hours .... i remember henry blofeld saying of him .... "i will go miles just to see azharuddin play the ball back to the bowler."

[rajg]

Azza scored 82 for India Veterans. Of all the palyers, he can still walk into current Indian team. Match fixing was done during 70s, 80s....most prominent players like SMG, KD did it. Azhar case came out for lot of reason, one being he was a RSD man. WHen Muthiah took over, who was JD person, things seemed to turn bad against Azhar. Also, Prabhakar did not get his share...he started public show.

[dhruvdeepak]

Azza scored 82 for India Veterans. Of all the palyers, he can still walk into current Indian team. Match fixing was done during 70s, 80s....most prominent players like SMG, KD did it. Azhar case came out for lot of reason, one being he was a RSD man. WHen Muthiah took over, who was JD person, things seemed to turn bad against Azhar. Also, Prabhakar did not get his share...he started public show.

thats quite an accusation. would you mind elaborating: which matches, what performances, who paid them?