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Exclusive: Azhar's agony Skeptical Indian public watches legal challenge
Updated: Sunday January 28, 2001 6:01 AM
Hyderabad, India -- As the saying goes, there are two things that are constant in Indian society: food and cricket. These much-cherished elements of south Asian life have long been a reassuring presence alongside the day-to-day struggle for survival. But the events of the few months are threatening cricket's rightful place amongst Chicken Biryani and Channa Marsala on the national favorites' list. Last year's damning report into match-fixing saw two Indian test players banned for life and two others receive five-year suspensions. And of course, the biggest shock of all was the life ban for former captain and national hero Mohammad Azharuddin. According to the report of India's Central Bureau of Investigation, the once beloved "Azhar" admitted to scandalous behavior, including the "fixing" of three one-day internationals involving India for big money. He was also the man whom allegedly introduced notorious bookmaker Mukesh Kumar Gupta to fallen South African skipper Hansie Cronje. Passing through his hometown Hyderabad during a personal trip to India, I contacted Azharuddin and tried to gauge the public's reaction to the allegations against him. While declining an on-camera interview on legal advice, I spoke with the 37-year-old batsman about the claims that he accumulated a personal fortune through illegal means. "They don't have a case against me," Azharuddin said in a quiet but firm manner. "They made so many mistakes (in the report)." What about his supposed confession to Indian authorities, detailed in the report, that he fixed three one-day internationals? "I didn't actually," he said. "They put it in the report because it was convenient to them. In those matches, I scored very well." Azharuddin is mounting a legal challenge to his life ban and says he denies all the charges against him. Since the report came out in November, the former Wisden Player of the Year has been keeping a low profile. He's refused to speak to local journalists, preferring the seclusion of his luxury home in the Hyderabad suburb of Banjara Hills, which he shares with his second wife Sangeeta Bijlani, the former model and actress. Rama Mohanreddy, a sports writer with Hyderabad's Deccan Chronicle newspaper, says few people are paying much attention to Azharuddin's protestations of innocence. "People believe the report," Mr. Mohanreddy said. "There is just so much evidence." There is a feeling, though, that "Azhar" may have been singled out for severe punishment while others were allowed to walk free after committing similar offenses. Azharuddin is part of Hyderabad's Muslim minority, which makes up roughly 25 per cent of the population of this booming, high-tech city of 4.5 million in south-central India. He was a rare Muslim captain in the Indian national team, made up predominantly of Hindus. A Muslim cleric in Hyderabad recently suggested that Azharrudin is being sanctioned so severely because of his religion. There does seem to be a tinge of sadness amongst cricket lovers of all faiths here when Azharuddin's name is brought up. Who would have imagined that the fresh-faced 21-year-old who scored centuries in his first three matches against England would be booted out of cricket after 99 tests and see his own effigy burnt in the streets by furious fans? Fortunately though, the scandal has so far only slightly tempered India's enthusiasm for the English-invented sport. There's much excitement about the upcoming tour by Australia, which is looking to win a test series in India for the first time in more than three decades. As for Azharuddin, it's unlikely that he will be present at any of the three test matches or five one-day internationals. He'll be either keeping a low profile at home in Hyderabad or consulting his lawyers on his legal fight with Indian officials. He must climb a mountain to clear his name and reputation. Because at the moment, the odds are heavily stacked against the graceful right-hander. Australian-born Jason Dasey is a co-anchor for World Sport, a 30-minute sports highlights and news program shown on CNNSI and CNN International.
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