Mohammed Azharuddin former India cricket captain will no longer have his name on a stand at the Rajiv Gandhi International Cricket Stadium in Uppal, Hyderabad. The Hyderabad Cricket Association (HCA) has been ordered to remove his name from the North Pavilion Stand. This order was issued by Justice V. Eswaraiah, who serves as the ethics officer and Ombudsman of the HCA.
No More Tickets with Azharuddin’s Name
Along with the name removal, the HCA has also been instructed to stop printing tickets that include Mohammed Azharuddin’s name. This decision follows an official complaint and investigation.
Conflict of Interest Behind the Decision
According to a report from Cricbuzz, the main reason for this action is a conflict of interest. Azharuddin served as HCA president in 2019. During that time, a decision was made to rename the North Pavilion Stand from “WS Laxman Pavilion” to “Mohammed Azharuddin Stand.”
Complaint Filed by Lords Cricket Club
On February 28, 2024, the Lords Cricket Club (LCC) from Hyderabad filed a formal complaint. They argued that Azharuddin, as a member of the Apex Council in 2019, should not have taken a decision that personally benefited him. Rule 38 states that no member of the Apex Council can make decisions in their own favor.
Call to Restore WS Laxman’s Name
The LCC also requested the Ombudsman to cancel Azharuddin’s action of renaming the stand. They asked that the stand be officially recognized again as the WS Laxman Stand “for all practical purposes.”
Ombudsman’s 25-Page Verdict
In his detailed 25-page order, Justice Eswaraiah stated that the decision taken in 2019 was not approved or changed by the HCA’s General Body. He pointed out that Azharuddin went beyond his powers and used his position to benefit himself.
Lords Cricket Club Welcomes the Verdict
The Lords Cricket Club expressed satisfaction with the outcome. The club’s treasurer, Somna Misra, told Sportstar that the decision supports transparency and fairness. She thanked the officials for their honest and just judgment.
