Top five cricketers who were defamed in India

2. Mohammad Azharuddin

Former India skipper Mohammad Azharuddin saw his illustrious career affected in 2000 when he was accused of match-fixing. During the tour of South Africa that year, Hansie Cronje alleged that Azhar introduced him to bookies. Following a CBI investigation, Azharuddin was handed a life ban by the BCCI and ICC.

Though a trial court confirmed the decision in 2003, which was later overturned by the Andhra Pradesh High Court in 2012, calling the ban illegal. Azharuddin, who played 99 Tests and 334 ODIs, revealed he did not know the real reason behind his ban. Later, he became the Hyderabad Cricket Association president in 2019 and even had a stand named after him. Notably, the former batter also has a film based on him, called Azhar, which is inspired by his life and the incidents that followed.