Till not too long ago, former India captain Mohammad Azharuddin was tainted by a life ban for match-fixing back slapped in 2000. After the Andhra Pradesh high court overruled the ban, he was seen mingling with everyone at the Board of Control for Cricket in India's awards
function.
Even though Azharuddin has been a Lok Sabha MP since 2009, he had struggled to shake off the taint in his cricketing career. The court overturned the ban on November 8.
After posing for photographs with his former colleagues and peers, Azhar maintained that this was not the first time he had been invited by the Board. "I've got invites previously, but time has been a problem in my making it."
Azharuddin expressed delight with the court ruling the ban was illegal. "I am very happy. I have maintained it and that it is a wonderful feeling."
Dhoni's demand for a turner may have raised a storm, but Azharuddin deemed it perfectly alright. "What is wrong in it, I believe we should always play to our strength."