ICC has no qualms about Azhar's felicitation

Azhar will be among former skippers felicitated at the opening of BCCI's new headquarters in Mumbai, reports Kadambari Murali.

Former India captain Mohammed Azharuddin, banned for life by the BCCI (an action ratified by the ICC) because of the match-fixing scandal, will be among former skippers felicitated at the opening of the Board’s new headquarters in Mumbai on November 4.

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Azhar was also invited by the Punjab Cricket Association (PCA) to watch Wednesday’s semifinal and walked in midway through Australia’s batting.

The ICC, which had earlier indicated that the it was not too happy with a player banned being felicitated, seems to have decided that the felicitation is an internal matter for the BCCI to resolve. “Azharuddin has been banned from playing cricket, not banned from having a life,” said Sonn. “The spirit of cricket in all its facets will be nothing if it does not reflect the spirit of humanity.”

But Azhar, according to the ICC, will still have to apply to them for a pardon through the review process. The BCCI cannot decide to change the stature of a banned player.

“The BCCI knows of the process since it was put in place after being ratified by the Executive Board in 2004,” said Speed. He said the application of Ata-ur-Rehman of Pakistan for the same was pending review.