“I have been denied the chance to contest for the presidentship in the HCA elections in January 2017 and false allegations are being made against me,” said former India captain Mohd Azharuddin.
Flashing a copy of the letter written by Chief Executive Officer of the BCCI Rahul Johri, in response to a mail from the then HCA ad hoc panel chairman P.C. Jain (January 10, 2017) seeking a clarification whether Azhar can contest the HCA elections, Azhar shows the content of the response which states: “The BCCI order (debarring Azhar) was set aside by the Andhra Pradesh High Court on November 8, 2012. In view thereof, the BCCI order no longer debars Mr. Azharuddin from holding any position in the ICC/BCCI or any of its affiliated associations.”
“We are, however, not expressing any view on whether Mr. Azharuddin is otherwise qualified or disqualified from participating in the ongoing elections of the HCA as it is not for the BCCI to examine or advise on the eligibility or non-eligibility of persons seeking to contest elections to State associations,” says the BCCI official’s letter.
“This letter clearly shows that a fraud was committed against me and I was denied a chance to democratically contest the elections,” Azhar said in a chat with The Hindu on Wednesday.
“I am not sure who suppressed this crucial communication before the January 2017 elections to HCA. But it’s indisputable that there was a conspiracy to keep me away from entering the HCA,” Azhar said.
“I am also shocked that HCA president G. Vivek Venkatswamy says since I don’t get the BCCI pension given to former cricketers, it is proof enough that the ban on me is not lifted. I have proof that I am not denied of these benefits,” he said, showing another letter to prove his claims.
Referring to the charges by the HCA chief that he tried to attend the last SGM as proxy, Azhar showed the letter head of the National Cricket Club which has the list of office-bearers that names him the vice-president. “Now, I ask Dr. Vivek whether he can deny that there were no proxies at the same SGM just because they happen to be his supporters,” he said.
“More importantly, I was issued an identity card by former HCA president Arshad Ayub and secretary K. John Manoj. This is done as per the recommendations of Justice Lodha panel,” he pointed out. “The whole objective was to deny me from attending the meeting and contesting the elections. I don’t know why they are doing this,” Azhar said.
Referring to the issue of conflict of interest of Dr. Vivek being Advisor to Telangana Government, Azhar challenged whether the former would show any letter from the Telangana government that he was not holding any such post.
