Former Indian captain Azharuddin removed as HCA President

Hyderabad:Former Indian Captain Mohammed Azharuddin has been sacked as Hyderabad Cricket Association (HCA) President over alleged violation of certain rules of the cricket board.

The Apex Council of the HCA, has delivered a show-cause notice to the former Indian skipper, stating he would remain under suspension until the completion of his inquiry on the accusations against him.

In its suspension notice issued against Azhar, the Council stated “After considering the complaints made by the members against you (Azharuddin), it was decided at the Apex Council meeting on June 10 to issue a show-cause notice on the ground that you have acted in violation of the rules.

“The Apex Council is suspending you and your membership of HCA is being terminated until completion of the inquiry on these complaints.”

The Apex Council had also levelled charges of “misconduct” and various acts of “omission and commission” against the stylish batsman of 80’s and 90’s.

In the five-page show cause notice also stated that Azharuddin has never made a disclosure that he owned a T10 team in Dubai and its in violation with BCCI’s constitution with no office-bearer allowed to own any cricketing entity.

“The complaint discloses that you are a mentor of a private cricket club in Dubai by name Northern Warriors which participates in a T10 cricket tournament which is unrecognized by the BCCI. The fact of you being a mentor has not been communicated to the HCA at any time.”

“It is also apparent that you have not communicated the same to the BCCI. Therefore you being a mentor of an unrecognized tournament comes under the ambit of conflict of interest as envisaged under Rule 38 (1) (iii) of the Memorandum of Association and Rules and Regulations 2018 of HCA,” it also stated.

Another allegation is that Azharuddin tried to stall all the financial transactions and commitments of the HCA by sending a letter to the Canara Bank with which the association has an account.

On May 25, the 10th Apex Council meeting was held where the decision to issue a show-cause notice to Azharuddin was taken.

The 58-year-old Azhar was appointed the President of HCA on September 27, 2019. There have been numerous controversies since his appointment.

Meanwhile at a press conference here on Thursday, Azharuddin alleged that five members of the nine-man HCA apex council, gang up and call themselves 'Apex Council', by what sense of interpretation is it justified? And I termed it ‘ belligerent ‘ posturing with scant regard for the rule of law.

Reminding the corruption case pertaining to the international stadium that the HCA has built in Uppal, on the outskirts of Hyderabad, he said the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) of the erstwhile Andhra Pradesh state launched an inquiry into the unusually high cost incurred on the stadium.

"We are also aware that four of these members were named in a charge-sheet outlining allegations of severe corruption. All their attempts to escape the arm of law by adopting technical strategies have been defeated and very soon, justice will prevail," said the former India captain.

Today, the institution of cricket administration itself is under threat by these false narratives being published in the media.

Please verify the truthfulness of the information, hear the other side, then take a rational view in line with the HCA constitution before you publish something because the society believes what you write,” Azhar added.(UNI)