Mohammad Azharuddin feels pained and says, “I regret playing cricket.”

The former India cricketer is heartbroken after learning that his name will be removed from the north stand of Hyderabad’s Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium.

India’s former cricketer Mohammad Azharuddin is deeply pained after learning that his name will be taken off the north stand of Hyderabad’s Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium. He has urged the BCCI to take action after being stripped of the honour.

Mohammad Azharuddin feels heartbroken.

The former cricketer feels deeply pained after the Hyderabad Cricket Association (HCA) decided to remove his name from a stand at Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium. The former India captain has called the move a disgrace and has slammed the authority. He has also urged the BCCI to step in and take action on the matter. The HCA received a formal directive to remove Azharuddin’s name from the North Pavilion Stand following serious allegations of favouritism levelled against him. The order was issued on Saturday by Justice V Eswaraiah, who is the Ethics Officer and Ombudsman for the HCA.

Lord’s Cricket Club lodged a formal complaint.

According to a report on Cricbuzz, the action was prompted by a formal complaint lodged by Lord’s Cricket Club. During his tenure as the President of the HCA, this local entity argued that Mohammad Azharuddin engaged in decision-making that demonstrated an apparent conflict of interest, favouring his interests. The petition pointed to actions taken explicitly by Azharuddin that were perceived as self-serving. This undermined the principles of fairness and impartiality expected from someone in his position of authority.

Azharuddin was quoted as saying by Gulf News, “It pains me deeply to say this, but I sometimes regret having played cricket. It’s heartbreaking to see individuals with little to no understanding of the game now in positions to teach and lead. It’s a complete disgrace to the sport. I am determined to pursue legal action against this injustice, and I urge the BCCI to intervene and take appropriate action. This issue isn’t isolated — Sunrisers Hyderabad also had a dispute with the association overpasses, highlighting a pattern of conflict and poor governance.” He added, “What’s unfolding is beyond comprehension, and it hurts me on a personal level. I was not allowed to contest the HCA elections simply because I exposed the corruption within the system. That truth made me a target.”