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This is an archive article published on May 16, 2006

Azhar wants ban lifted, meets Pawar

Former India captain Mohammed Azharuddin, banned for life from cricket over match-fixing charges, today met BCCI president Sharad Pawar in New Delhi. Describing the meeting as a “courtesy call”, he declined to go into details of what transpired.

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Former India captain Mohammed Azharuddin, banned for life from cricket over match-fixing charges, today met BCCI president Sharad Pawar in New Delhi. Describing the meeting as a “courtesy call”, he declined to go into details of what transpired.

But Azharuddin later told The Indian Express he wanted the ban to be lifted. “When other players have been exonerated, why should the ban against me alone continue,” he said.

On his questioning by the Enforcement Directorate, he said: “All queries are over. The reports have found nothing against me. Why does this ban continue?”

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Income tax problems continue to worry the former captain and cases since assessment years 1998-99, 2001-02 are pending in various appellate IT tribunals.

Azhar said that the “life time ban” by the BCCI meant “even survival becomes a problem”.

He said he was managing his income through a “fitness bar” he runs in Hyderabad.

He refused to comment on the Ganguly-Chappell episode. “I am not at all concerned. I don’t want to comment on any player, whether in or out.”

r.venkataraman@expressindia.com

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