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[poondu]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/cricket/other_international/india/6063600.stm

Indian board officials have hinted that the life ban imposed on former captain Mohammad Azharuddin may be overturned.
Azharuddin was one of only five players banned for life after a series of investigations into match-fixing conducted between 2000 and 2001.

BCCI spokesman Ratnakar Shetty said there was a feeling amongst the current regime that former board members had been too harsh in their decision.

"The general opinion is that Azhar has undergone enough punishment," he said.

The other players given life bans were Ajay Sharma (India), Salim Malik and Ata-ur-Rehman (Pakistan) and the late Hansie Cronje (South Africa).

South African Herschelle Gibbs was suspended for six months by his national board in 2000 after admitting he agreed to under-perform in a one-day international in exchange for money.

And Australians Shane Warne and Mark Waugh were fined in 1994 after accepting money from a bookmaker for supplying pitch information during a tour to Sri Lanka, a matter which only came to light four years later.

However, International Cricket Council chief executive Malcolm Speed said care needed to be taken when comparing cases.

"The point of distinction as I understand it is it was alleged and proved Azhar was actively involved in match-fixing," he added.

Azharuddin, whose Test career came to an end one short of 100 appearances, has always maintained his innocence of wrongdoing.

In a magazine interview in 2001, he said: "Match-fixing simply cannot be a one-man show.

"This is a game which involves 11 players. If a team fails, it is spectacularly unfair to single out just one person."

A softening of the BCCI's attitude towards him was highlighted last week when he was included in a list of former national team captains to be honoured at a special ceremony in November.

[flute202020]

This is just ridiculous. Azhar was involved in match fixing at a very high level with connections to enemies of state like abu salem & dawood ibrahim. He even tried to play the muslim card once his involvement became clear. The fact that other people were let off by other countries need not effect how we deal with our traitors.

[dextrous]

Well More and Pawar seem quite close to him.

[flute202020]

Well More and Pawar seem quite close to him.

to hell with them. this whole thing about politicians getting involved in sports is bad in multiple ways. Dalmiya should have made some attempts at making some positive change in BCCI after he was able to stave off pawar in 2004. when capable people like dalmiya get entangled in nepotism,politics & corruption, politicians like pawar benefit.

[ruchir]

No matter how good a batsman Azza was, his ban should never be lifted. What's more interesting is (if I'm not wrong) that Azza never argued that the charges pressed against him are wrong. He always argued that CBI had no legal authority to pass a judgement on him. That makes his ban all the more valid.

[ramshorns]

I do not think More would have anything to do with Azhar's ban lifted though they might be very close.

[dextrous]

I do not think More would have anything to do with Azhar's ban lifted though they might be very close.

You don't think More is one of the closer folks to the present regime?

[ramshorns]

I do not think More would have anything to do with Azhar's ban lifted though they might be very close.

You don't think More is one of the closer folks to the present regime?

He could be.  But I do not think he can influence something of this magnitude.  I just somehow do not see the connection here.

[flute202020]

I do not think More would have anything to do with Azhar's ban lifted though they might be very close.

You don't think More is one of the closer folks to the present regime?

Dex, this is like assuming that SG influenced Azza's ban in the first place, afterall SG was very close to dalmiya. Me thinks, we should refrain from making assumptions and extrapolating without evidence or atleast some "inside source" type of rumour in the media.

[undercover]

Well More and Pawar seem quite close to him.

Raj Singh's connection to Azar is well known . This is all the handiwork of that man .   

[sudzz]

There it is one more reason why cricket is beginning to jar...Its just not a sport anymore,

Even television serials like Bold and the Beautiful dont have so many twists and turns...I think the paying public is showing their displeasure by not turning up to matches (half empty stadiums anyone??)

By this token BCCI should felicitate every single anti national element, afterall they claimed that their team does not represent India it represents the organisation (remember the Sachin helmet controversy?) so who cares if Azhar screwed India!!!!

[achutank]

what helmet controversy?

[sudzz]

what helmet controversy?

Sachin was asked to remove the Indian flag from the crown of his helmet after the supreme court ruled that BCCI is a independent body and cricketers represent the BCCI Team and technically it is not the national team.

This is a controversy that arose when Indian players were asked to remove all national insignia from their apparel.