Congress wants BCCI to life Azhar’s ban

New Delhi: Congress party has demanded that the BCCI should lift the life-time ban from former Indian cricket captain Mohammad Azharuddin.

Azhar, currently a Congress MP from Moradabad in Uttar Pradesh was banned for life from cricket after being found guilty in the 2000 match-fixing scandal that devastated world cricket.

But Congress leaders from Uttar Pradesh argue that the ban on the former captain should be lifted now because several other players, who faced similar charges, have been allowed back into the game.

In fact, some of these MPs, including Jitin Prasad, BCCI’s Finance Committee chairman Rajiv Shukla, who is also a Congress spokesman, and actor-turned-politician Raj Babbar met ICC vice-President and former BCCI President Sharad Pawar on Friday to put forth their demand.

“I spoke to BCCI President Shashank Manohar and he said that if Azhar himself shows interest in wanting the ban lifted then it can be moved forward to the Annual General Meeting and it can lifted only if the BCCI AGM deems it fit ” Shukla said.

Azharuddin, a stylish right-handed batsman from Hyderabad scored 6215 runs in 99 Tests at an average of 45 whereas in his 334 ODIs he amassed 9378 runs as 36.92. A magically wristy batsman and an agile fielder, Azhar captained India in 47 Tests and 174 One-day internationals