 "The North Pavilion Stand of Hyderabad stadium was named as the Mohammed Azharuddin Stand in 2019. Image: Mohammed Azharuddin on X")
Former India and Hyderabad captain Mohammed Azharuddin will not have a stand by his name at the Rajiv Gandhi International Cricket Stadium, Uppal, Hyderabad. The North Pavilion Stand of the Rajiv Gandhi International Cricket Stadium was known as the Mohammed Azharuddin Stand but the name will have to be changed after a recent order from the Hyderabad Cricket Association’s (HCA) Ombudsman.
Azharuddin, who was also the Hyderabad Cricket Association’s president in the past, has contested the decision, threatening to go to court.
Why Azharuddin stand will removed from Hyderabad Stadium?
The order to remove the name of Azharuddin from the North Pavilion Stand was issued on Saturday by Justice V Eswaraiah, Ethics Officer and Ombudsman of the HCA. The order was issued on the basis of a petition filed by the Lords Cricket Club.
The Lords Cricket Club had alleged that naming the North Pavilion Stand as the Mohammed Azharuddin Stand was a clear case of conflict of interest. It also claimed that in 2019 the North Stand was renamed from the VVS Laxman Pavilion to the Azharuddin Stand when the former cricketer himself was the president of HCA.
The Lords Cricket Club in its petition said that Azharuddin violated the Memorandum of Association and Rules & Regulations of HCA. The petition further added that under Rule 38, a member of the Apex Council cannot take any decision in their favour.
The Ombudsman agreed that it was a case of conflict of interest and that Azharuddin took a decision in his favour.
“The fact that there has been no ratification/modification of the decision by the General Body further strengthens the case against the Respondent No. 1 (Azharuddin), as the Respondent No. 1 has exceeded his authority to benefit himself. In consequence of my findings, a clear case of conflict of interest is made out,” Justice V Eswaraiah said in his 25-page verdict.
Impact Shorts
More ShortsBesides asking to remove the name of Azharuddin from the stand, the Ombudsman has also ordered HCA to ensure that no tickets are sold in the name of Azharuddin from hereon.
Azharuddin reacts to removal of stand in his name
Azharuddin has branded the judgment as low-level politics. The 62-year-old said he will move court against the mistreatment of a former cricketer who served Hyderabad with “distinction.”
“There’s no conflict of interest in this. I don’t want to comment, I don’t want to stoop to this level. The cricketing world will laugh at the association. 17 years of cricket, almost 10 years as captain of the side, and with distinction. This is how you treat cricketers in Hyderabad. It’s a very sad state of affairs. We will go to the court, 100%. The law will take its course,” he was quoted as saying by The Hindu.