Published: Nov 08, 2012, 02:46 PM (IST)
Edited: Nov 08, 2012, 02:46 PM (IST)
Mohammad Azharuddin’s life ban, given to him by the BCCI in 2000 for his role in match-fixing, has been deemed illegal by the Andhra Pradesh High Court
Hyderabad: Nov 8, 2012
In what could come as welcome relief for former India skipper Mohammad Azharuddin, the Andhra Pradesh High Court has ruled that the life ban given to him in 2000 for his role in a match-fixing scandal is unsustainable by law.
Azharuddin’s lawyers told news channel CNN IBN that his ban has been revoked until the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) appeals against the order.
The lifting of the ban makes Azharuddin eligible for the BCCI’s one-time benefit scheme which could get him up to Rs. 1.5 crore for his services to Indian cricket.
Azharuddin was banned after he admitted to fixing three ODI matches in the nineties. Even though the ban was lifted in 2006, the decision was embroiled in controversy after the International Cricket Council (ICC) claimed that only they had the authority to revoke the ban.
Azharuddin’s lawyers have said that the investigation was biased in favour of the BCCI and have been constantly fighting in courts for its overturn.
The former India captain’s cricketing career ended in 2000 when he was one cap away from a milestone 100 Tests and scored 6,215 runs in the 99 he played. He also scored 9,378 runs in 334 ODI appearances. Azhar then resorted to politics and was to become a Congress MP.
