Print

Please post once and this message will disappear! Introduce yourself, say hello, jump into a discussion...

[suraj]

Azharuddin does not want to repeat Wisden mistake
Friday October 13 2006 00:00 IST
IANS

NEW DELHI: Former Indian captain Mohammad Azharuddin, banned for life on match fixing charges, surely believes in the dictum once bitten twice shy.

The stylish batsman, who figures in a list of prominent cricketers and officials to be honoured at a Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) function next month, says he will go only after receiving a proper invitation.

"Look, let me get the invite. I do not want to be embarrassed and humiliated like what happened to me after being called for the Wisden awards and then suddenly dropped," Azharuddin told IANS from Hyderabad.

In July 2002, Wisden Asia's managing director and former Test player Yajuvindra Singh sent Azharuddin and 15 other nominees a contract and told the former captain he was one of the nominees for Wisden's Greatest Indian Cricketer of the Century award.

"He (Yajuvindra) asked me if I would come for the function in London where they were going to select the greatest Indian cricketer of the century. He even sent me a contract, which I filled and sent back. It stipulated that I would be invited for the function and I would have to give some media interviews," said Azharuddin.

But for some inexplicable reason, the organisers did not get back to Azharuddin and just told him there was a "mistake" and did not even apologise for the goof- up.

With that incident still playing on his mind, he wants to see an invitation in hand before making up his mind.

Azharuddin was banned for life in 2000 for alleged match fixing but is expected to join other ex-captains and current skipper Rahul Dravid at the BCCI event in Mumbai on Nov 4.

"Azharuddin's name is in the list," BCCI secretary Niranjan Shah had told reporters in Mumbai on Wednesday. "This honour will be for his contribution to Indian cricket and the board doesn't see anything wrong here." Even the BCCI's administrative head Ratnakar Shetty reiterated that an invitation had been sent to him.

The BCCI had banned Azharuddin from coaching or assuming any official position in the sport and refused to allow him a pension paid to all former players.

However, Azharuddin has been trying to overturn the decision in the courts and even returned to action in a series between India and Pakistan legends in April, hitting 82 for India Seniors in Karachi.

Another controversial figure in Indian cricket, former BCCI and International Cricket Council chief Jagmohan Dalmiya, currently being investigated for alleged misuse of funds, has also been invited for the ceremony.

The function in Mumbai marks the opening of the BCCI's new headquarters and it comes after the final of the Champions Trophy currently being played in the country.

[Libran]

Sourav to miss this function because of the Duleep Trophy match to be played in Guwahati