KARACHI: Mohammad Azharuddin’s cricketing life has now returned to normal after being removed from life ban, but the former India captain says he does not really know why he was banned. In December 2000, BCCI banned Azhar for life for his involvement in match-fixing. The ban was lifted by the Andhra Pradesh High Court in 2012 after a long legal battle.
In an interview given to Cricket Pakistan.com, Azhar said, “I don’t want to blame anyone for what happened.” I don’t know why I was banned. ” He said, “But I decided to fight and I am happy that after 12 years, I was declared a clean .” I am very satisfied to be the President of the Hyderabad Cricket Association and to attend the BCCI Annual General Meeting. ” A stand of Rajiv Gandhi International Cricket Stadium was named after Azhar, who scored 6125 runs in 99 Tests for India and 9378 runs in 334 ODIs. He was also one of the few former cricketers to have roamed the Eden Gardens before India’s Pink Ball before the Test. Azhar said that he has no qualms about not completing hundreds of Test matches. He said, “I believe that what is in luck, is what you get.” I don’t think my record of 99 Tests will be broken because a good player will play more than a hundred Tests. “
He told how Pakistan’s great batsman Zaheer Abbas helped him get out of bad form and how he later helped Younis Khan in the same way. Azhar said, “I felt that I would not be selected for the 1989 tour to Pakistan because I was in very poor form.” I remember Zaheer Bhai came to see our practice in Karachi. He asked why I am getting out early. When I explained the problem, they asked me to change the grip a little. I did the same and started scoring runs. “
