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Mohammad Azharuddin

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Mohammad Azharuddin (born 8 February 1963) is an Indian politician and a former cricketer who also served as the Indian national cricket team's captain. He was a right-handed middle order batter and an occasional medium fast bowler. He played 99 Test matches and 334 One Day Internationals for India. As a captain, he led the team to wins in the 1990-91 and 1995 Asia Cups and reached the semi-finals of the 1996 Cricket World Cup. He was considered as one of the best ODI batsmen in the world and one of the greatest of his era. He captained India in three Cricket World Cups, the most by any Indian captain, all during the 1990s. He was also a part of the Indian squad which won the 1985 World Championship of Cricket.

Mohammad Azharuddin
Member of Parliament, Lok Sabha
In office
16 May 2009 (2009-05-16) – 16 May 2014 (2014-05-16)
Preceded byShafiqur Rahman Barq
Succeeded byKunwar Sarvesh Kumar Singh
ConstituencyMoradabad
27th President of Hyderabad Cricket Association
Incumbent
Assumed office
27 September 2019
Preceded byGaddam Vivek Venkatswamy
Working President of Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee
Incumbent
Assumed office
2 June 2014
Personal details
Born (1963-02-08) 8 February 1963 (age 61)
Hyderabad, Telangana, India
Political partyIndian National Congress
Height179 cm (5 ft 10 in)[2]
Spouses
  • Naureen
    ​
    ​
    (m. 1987; div. 1996)​
  • ​
    ​
    (m. 1996; div. 2010)​
  • Shannon Marie
    ​
    (m. 2017)​
Nickname(s)Azhar, Azzu[1]
Cricket information
BattingRight-handed
BowlingRight-arm medium
RoleMiddle-order batter
International information
National side
Test debut (cap 169)31 December 1984 v England
Last Test2 March 2000 v South Africa
ODI debut (cap 51)20 January 1985 v England
Last ODI3 June 2000 v Pakistan
Domestic team information
YearsTeam
1981–2000Hyderabad
1983–2001South Zone
1991–1994Derbyshire
Career statistics
Competition Test ODI FC LA
Matches 99 334 229 433
Runs scored 6,215 9,378 15,855 12,941
Batting average 45.03 36.92 51.98 39.33
100s/50s 22/21 7/58 54/74 11/85
Top score 199 153* 226 161*
Balls bowled 13 552 1,432 827
Wickets 0 12 17 15
Bowling average – 98.44 46.23 47.26
5 wickets in innings – 0 0 0
10 wickets in match – 0 0 0
Best bowling – 3/19 3/36 3/19
Catches/stumpings 105/– 156/– 220/– 200/–
Medal record
Men's Cricket
Representing  India
ACC Asia Cup
Winner 1988 Bangladesh
Winner 1990-91 India
Winner 1995 United Arab Emirates
Runner-up 1997 Sri Lanka
Source: ESPNcricinfo, 13 February 2009

His cricketing career came to an abrupt end in 2000 after he was banned by the Board of Control for Cricket in India for life due to his alleged involvement in a match fixing scandal. In 2012, the Andhra Pradesh High Court lifted the life ban after appeal.[3] In September 2019, he was elected as the president of Hyderabad Cricket Association.[4]

In 2009, Azharuddin joined Indian National Congress and was elected as a member of parliament for Moradabad. He was appointed as the President of Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee in 2018.[5]

Early and personal life

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Azharuddin was born on 8 February 1963 in Hyderabad to Mohammad Azizuddin and Yousuf Sultana. He attended All Saints High School and graduated from Nizam College, Osmania University with a Bachelor of Commerce degree.[6]

Azharuddin married Naureen in 1987 and they had two sons, Mohammad Asaduddin and Mohammad Ayazuddin. In 1996, he divorced Naureen and married actress Sangeeta Bijlani.[7] After Azharuddin's rumored affairs with multiple people, notably badminton player Jwala Gutta, Sangeeta filed for a divorce in 2010.[8][9][10][11] His younger son Ayazuddin died in a bike accident in 2011.[12][13][14] His elder son Asaduddin is a domestic cricketer and he married Anam Mirza, the sister of Sania Mirza in 2019.[15][16]

Career

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Debut and early years

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Azharuddin made his debut for the Indian cricket team in Test cricket against England at Eden Gardens in Kolkata on 31 December 1984 scoring 110 in his first innings.[17] He subsequently scored two more centuries in his next two Test matches in the series.[18] He made his ODI debut against the visiting England team at M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bangalore on 20 January 1985 and made an unbeaten 47.[19]

Captaincy of national team

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In 1989, Azharuddin was appointed as the captain of the Indian team succeeding Krishnamachari Srikkanth.[20] He led the Indian team in 47 Test matches and 174 One Day Internationals.[20][21] He led the team to victory in 14 tests and 90 ODIs, both records until surpassed by Sourav Ganguly and MS Dhoni respectively.[22][7]

During India's tour of England in 1990, Azharuddin scored 121 in the first test at Lord's in 1990.[23] Though India lost the match, former England cricketer Vic Marks called it "the most dazzling Test century" he had ever witnessed, in his column for The Observer.[24] In the second Test in Manchester, Azharuddin scored his tenth century in tests with a 179 runs while putting on a 112-run stand with Sachin Tendulkar in the first innings. Playing his 39th Test, he reached his 10th Test century off 155 balls.[25] Azharuddin ended the series with 426 runs at an average of 85.20 which was the highest tally by an India captain in a test series in England until it was broken by Virat Kohli in 2018.[26][27]

Asia cup victories and World cups

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Azharuddin led India to victory in the 1990–91 Asia Cup beating Sri Lanka in the final. He scored 54 runs in the final and was awarded the Man of the match award.[28] Azharuddin led India at the 1992 Cricket World Cup where India were knocked out in the group stage and finished seventh out of nine teams with two wins in eight matches.[29] India won the 1995 Asia Cup beating Sri Lanka by 8 wickets in the final where Azharuddin captained the side and won the man of the match scoring runs.[30] Azharuddin again led the team in the 1996 Cricket World Cup co-hosted by India.[31] India finished in third place in the group stage, qualifying for the quarter finals where they beat Pakistan by 39 runs to make it to the semi finals.[32] India lost in the semifinals to Sri Lanka after the match was abandoned mid way due to crowd trouble when India were eight wickets down for 120 runs in response to Sri Lanka's score of 251/8.[33]

Later years

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During the second test of South Africa's India tour in 1996–97 at Kolkata, Azharuddin scored a century off 74 deliveries equaling Kapil Dev's record for the fastest test century by an India player and fourth overall, in terms of balls faced.[34][35] Azharuddin scored another century in the next test making an unbeaten 163 and helped India record their biggest win in Test history in terms of runs (280) at the time.[36] He was named the man of the match and the series after aggregating 388 runs at an average of 77.60[37][38] Azharuddin scored seven centuries in ODIs with a best of 153 coming against Zimbabwe on 9 April 1998 in Cuttack.[39] He scored the last of his 22 centuries in tests against South Africa in Bangalore in March 2000, which also turned out to be the last test match in his career.[40] Azharuddin played the final match of his international career in an ODI against Pakistan on 3 June 2000 in the 2000 Asia Cup.[41]

Match fixing allegations and ban

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During India's tour of South Africa in 2000, a series that was won by India 3–2, Azharuddin scored only 112 runs at an average of 28.[42] he was accused of match fixing in the match fixing scandal that erupted in the aftermath of the series.[43] Then captain of South Africa Hansie Cronje stated that Azharuddin was the one to introduce him to bookies.[44] International Cricket Council and BCCI banned Azharuddin for life based on a report by Central Bureau of Investigation.[45][46]

Post retirement

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In 2003, a trial court upheld the lifetime ban but it was later overturned on 8 November 2012 by a divisional bench of the Andhra Pradesh High Court.[47][48] In 2019, Azhar was elected as the president of Hyderabad Cricket Association.[4]

Playing style

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Azharuddin was a right handed middle order batter and an occasional medium fast bowler. He was known for his graceful and fluid batting style.[49] John Woodcock, a cricket writer, said of him, "It's no use asking an Englishman to bat like Mohammad Azharuddin. It would be like expecting a greyhound to win The Derby."[50] Former cricketer and umpire Srinivasaraghavan Venkataraghavan stated that "Azharuddin had the best wrists in the game".[7] Mike Atherton and Angus Fraser said Azharuddin's "genius was second only to Brian Lara among batsmen of their generation."[24]

Statistics

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Further information: List of international cricket centuries by Mohammad Azharuddin

Predominantly a middle order batsman, Azharuddin played 99 test matches for India and scored 6,215 runs at an average of 45.03, including 22 centuries and 21 half-centuries.[51] He scored 9,378 runs in One Day Internationals (ODIs) from 334 matches at an average of 36.92 and 156 catches as a fielder.[51] Azharuddin made his debut with a 110 against England in Kolkata in 1984 and scored 102 against South Africa in Bangalore in his last match, becoming the first Indian and the fifth batsman ever to score a century in his first and last Test matches.[52]

Team Runs Average 100s Highest Score
Australia 780 39.00 2 163*
England 1978 58.09 6 182
New Zealand 1152 61.23 2 192
Pakistan 1089 40.47 3 141
South Africa 915 41.00 4 163*
Sri Lanka 1215 55.23 5 199
West Indies 539 28.37 0 97
Zimbabwe 59 14.75 0 42
Total 6215 45.04 22 199

Political career

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Azharuddin joined Indian National Congress party on 19 February 2009. He won the 2009 Indian general election from Moradabad in Uttar Pradesh to become a member of parliament.[53] He contested the 2014 Indian general election from Tonk–Sawai Madhopur in Rajasthan but lost to Sukhbir Singh Jaunapuria of Bharatiya Janata Party.[54] In 2018, he was appointed as working president of Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee.[55][56] He contested the 2023 Telangana Legislative Assembly election from Jubilee Hills Assembly constituency in Hyderabad but lost to Maganti Gopinath of the Bharat Rashtra Samithi.[57][58]

Awards

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Azharuddin was awarded the Arjuna Award in 1986 and India's fourth-highest civilian award Padma Shri in 1988.[59] He was named one of five Wisden's cricketers of the year for 1991.[60] Azharuddin has also received doctorate degree (honoris causa) from Jamia Hamdard, New Delhi on 21 September 2023.

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A Bollywood film Azhar, directed by Tony D'Souza, was based on his life. The film featured Emraan Hashmi as Azharuddin and was released on 13 May 2016.[61][62] A Netflix film Caught Out: Crime. Corruption. Cricket. depicting the investigations and allegations of match fixing against former cricketers including Mohammad Azharuddin premiered on 17 March 2023.[63]

References

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  1. ^ "Of comparisons and imitations". The Hindu. 1 March 2011. Retrieved 14 July 2023.
  2. ^ "Mohammad Azharuddin's profile". Sportskeeda. Retrieved 4 November 2023.
  3. ^ "Andhra Pradesh High Court Clears Azhar". Quint. 11 May 2016. Retrieved 10 August 2018.
  4. ^ a b "Former India captain Mohammad Azharuddin elected as HCA president". India Today. 27 September 2019. Retrieved 28 September 2019.
  5. ^ Choudhury, Angikaar (15 February 2016). "Mohammad Azharuddin: The rise and fall of the Nawab of Hyderabad". Scroll.in. Retrieved 1 April 2016.
  6. ^ "Biography of Azhar". azhar.co.in. Retrieved 12 May 2016.
  7. ^ a b c "Azhar: Here's all the real-life drama from Mohammad Azharuddin's life". Indian Express. 13 May 2016. Retrieved 14 May 2016.
  8. ^ "Jwala in, Bijli out of Azharuddin's life?". The Times of India. 24 July 2010. Retrieved 15 May 2016.
  9. ^ "Azhar dating badminton player Jwala Gutta". India tv News. Retrieved 12 May 2016.
  10. ^ "From love at first sight to divorce: The tragic love story of ex-India captain Md Azharuddin and Sangeeta Bijlani". DNA India. Retrieved 6 June 2022.
  11. ^ "Mohammad Azharuddin birthday special: Know Indian cricketer Azhar, his love life and three wives!". india.com. Retrieved 6 June 2022.
  12. ^ "Azharuddin's teenage son dies 5 days after bike crash". Times of India. 17 September 2011. Retrieved 6 June 2022.
  13. ^ "Azharuddin's son dead". The Hindu. 16 September 2011. Retrieved 6 June 2022.
  14. ^ "Speed thrilled, killed 200 kmph Ayaz". 18 September 2011. Archived from the original on 16 January 2017. Retrieved 6 June 2022.
  15. ^ "Sania Mirza's sister Anam marries Mohd Azharuddin's son Asaduddin in Hyderabad". India Today. Ist. Retrieved 15 December 2019.
  16. ^ "Mohammad Azharuddin's son Asad marries Sania Mirza's sister Anam; see pics and videos". Deccan Chronicle. 12 December 2019. Retrieved 15 December 2019.
  17. ^ "3rd Test, Eden Gardens, December 31, 1984 - January 05, 1985". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 1 November 2023.
  18. ^ "List of centuries, Azharuddin". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 1 November 2023.
  19. ^ "3rd ODI, Bengaluru, January 20, 1985, England tour of India". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 1 November 2023.
  20. ^ a b "India Cricket Team Records & Stats: Test Captains". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 31 October 2023.
  21. ^ "India Cricket Team Records & Stats: ODI Captains". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 31 October 2023.
  22. ^ "Virat Kohli has to behave like a captain, says Mohammad Azharuddin". The Indian Express. 30 July 2013. Retrieved 6 January 2014.
  23. ^ "1st Test, Lord's, July 26 - 31, 1990, India tour of England". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 31 October 2023.
  24. ^ a b Smyth, Rob (22 July 2011). "The Joy of Six: England v India memories". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 12 October 2018. Retrieved 12 October 2018.
  25. ^ "2nd Test, Manchester, August 09 - 14, 1990, India tour of England". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 31 October 2023.
  26. ^ "King Kohli Slams 23rd Test Ton, Pips Dhoni & Records he Broke". India Today. 20 August 2018. Retrieved 1 May 2020.
  27. ^ Bland, Gareth (17 February 2016). "In praise of Azhar". cricketweb.net. Retrieved 1 May 2020.
  28. ^ "Asia cup final 1990-91, Scorecard". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 31 October 2023.
  29. ^ "Points table, 1992 World cup". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 31 October 2023.
  30. ^ "Final, Sharjah, April 14, 1995, Pepsi Asia Cup". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 31 October 2023.
  31. ^ "Points table, 1996 World cup". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 31 October 2023.
  32. ^ "2nd QF (D/N), Bengaluru, March 09, 1996, Wills World Cup". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 31 October 2023.
  33. ^ "1st Semi-Final (D/N), Eden Gardens, March 13, 1996, Wills World Cup". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 31 October 2023.
  34. ^ Menon, Mohandas (30 November 1996). "Azhar's record breaking knock". The Indian Express. Archived from the original on 24 April 1997. Retrieved 18 October 2018.
  35. ^ Jaishankar, Vedam (30 November 1996). "Amazing Azhar onslaught revives India at Eden". The Indian Express. Archived from the original on 24 April 1997. Retrieved 18 October 2018.
  36. ^ "Biggest margin". The Indian Express. 13 December 1996. Archived from the original on 22 April 1997. Retrieved 19 October 2018.
  37. ^ Magazine, Pradeep (13 December 1996). "India wrap up victory quickly". The Indian Express. Archived from the original on 22 April 1997. Retrieved 19 October 2018.
  38. ^ "Cricket Records / Records / South Africa in India Test Series, 1996/97 / Most runs". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 31 October 2023.
  39. ^ "5th Match, Cuttack, April 09, 1998, Pepsi Triangular Series". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 31 October 2023.
  40. ^ "2nd Test, Bengaluru, March 02 - 06, 2000, South Africa tour of India". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 31 October 2023.
  41. ^ "5th Match (D/N), Dhaka, June 03, 2000, Asia Cup". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 31 October 2023.
  42. ^ "Everyone thinks Mohammad Azharuddin was a match-fixer. But what is the full story and why was his ban lifted?". Sports Keeda. Retrieved 1 November 2023.
  43. ^ The CBI Report in Full – Part 26 (Report). 1 November 2000. Retrieved 21 December 2010 – via Rediff.com.
  44. ^ The CBI Report in Full – Part 25 (Report). 1 November 2000. Retrieved 21 December 2010 – via Rediff.com.
  45. ^ Full text of the CBI (Report). Central Bureau of Investigation, New Delhi. 1 November 2000. Retrieved 21 December 2010 – via Rediff.com.
  46. ^ "Azharuddin confesses all". 2 November 2000. Retrieved 11 January 2022.
  47. ^ "Court quashes life ban on Azhar". Deccan Herald. 8 November 2004. Retrieved 21 October 2023.
  48. ^ "Match fixing scandal". The Hindu. 8 November 2012. Retrieved 21 March 2015.
  49. ^ "Mohammad Azharuddin: The magician who made batting look stunningly surreal". cricketcountry.com. 7 February 2016. Retrieved 10 August 2018.
  50. ^ Astill, James (2013). The Great Tamasha: Cricket, corruption and the turbulent rise of modern India. Wisden Sports Writing. p. 132. ISBN 978-1408156926.
  51. ^ a b "Mohammad Azharuddin, profile". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 23 October 2023.
  52. ^ "Hundreds on debut". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 23 October 2023.
  53. ^ "Premium Azharuddin pads up for Congress". Indian Express. 3 November 2023. Retrieved 4 November 2023.
  54. ^ "Mohammad Azharuddin loses from Tonk-Sawai Madhopur seat in Rajasthan". Zee News. 14 May 2016. Retrieved 3 November 2023.
  55. ^ "Mohammad Azharuddin appointed working president of Telangana Congress". Hindustan Times. 30 November 2018. Retrieved 2 November 2023.
  56. ^ Supriya Bhardwaj (30 November 2018). "New innings: Mohammad Azharuddin is Congress's working president in Telangana". India Today. Retrieved 2 November 2023.
  57. ^ "Telangana Assembly Polls 2023: BJP Releases 3rd List; Puts Lankala Deepak against Azharuddin". Times Now. 2 November 2023. Retrieved 2 November 2023.
  58. ^ "Results constituency wise". Election Commission of India. Retrieved 5 December 2023.
  59. ^ "List of Arjuna Awardees". Odisha book. Archived from the original on 8 May 2016. Retrieved 14 May 2016.
  60. ^ Popham, Peter (5 November 2000). "Azhar's world in ruins". The Independent. Retrieved 19 December 2018.
  61. ^ "Azhar Plot Summary". Times of India. 13 May 2016. Retrieved 10 August 2018.
  62. ^ "Sorry Bollywood, The Truth About Azhar Lies in His Own Confessions". 14 July 2016. Retrieved 14 July 2016.
  63. ^ "'Caught Out: Crime. Corruption. Cricket.' documentary review: The cinematic retelling of Indian cricket's match-fixing saga feels incomplete". The Hindu. 17 March 2023. Retrieved 1 November 2023.
 
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Preceded by Indian National Test Cricket Captain
1989/90 – 1996 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Indian National Test Cricket Captain
1997/98 – 1998/99 		Succeeded by
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