Mohammad Azharuddin lashes out at HCA after being barred from attending a SGM

Former India skipper Mohammad Azharuddin has lashed out at the Hyderabad Cricket Association (HCA) after recently being barred from attending a Special General Meeting (SGM). He slammed the cricket body and termed it ‘illegal’ and has decided to take a legal action against some of the officials of the HCA, including ad-hoc committee chairman Prakash Jain, for denying him a chance to contest in the HCA election held last year.

Flashing a copy of the letter from the Board for Cricket Control in India (BCCI), Azharuddin clarified since his life ban has been lifted, and he was eligible to contest in the HCA election. But the 54-year-old was disallowed by Prakash Jain from contesting, despite Azharuddin being cleared by Andhra Court of any charges.

Speaking to the media, Azharuddin said, “I want to clarify a lot of things which were said about me by the so-called Hyderabad ‘illegal’ Committee.”

He added, “It is a total violation of fundamental rights. It was criminal on their part to treat me like that. You cannot deprive any individual or citizen of India of a fundamental right. And these people have done it. They had hidden the letter. They didn’t want me to fight in elections.”

BCCI clears the air

The matter came to light after Prakash Jain, HCA’s ad-hoc committee chairman, had sought clarification from BCCI on Azharuddin’s eligibility for elections last January. Subsequently, Jain, as part of HCA, had also sought clarifications from the board whether the electoral officer can accept his nomination filed through a local HCA affiliated club.

In its response to HCA, the BCCI stressed the view that Azharuddin wasn’t debarred from contesting. The Board also added that the BCCI won’t express any view on whether he is otherwise qualified or disqualified from participating in the elections to HCA as it’s not for BCCI to examine or advise on the eligibility or non-eligibility of persons seeking to contest elections to state associations.