Mohammad Azharuddin: An all-time great?

[Nikhil_cric]

Basit Ali claimed that there was a lot of respect for the former Indian skipper in the Pakistan dressing room.

“Before every India match, I was given the responsibility to sledge the Indian players. I was told to disturb Sachin (Tendulkar), Jadeja (Ajay), Sidhu (Navjot), Kambli (Vinod), but the moment Azhar bhai’s name used to come, the entire team unanimously said no one would disturb Azhar bhai. I don’t have words to describe the amount of respect we used to have for Azhar bhai in our dressing room," said Basit on his Youtube channel.

‘’Be it Wasim (Akram) bhai, Salim Malik, Rashid Latif, Inzmam-ul-Haq and Waqar Younis, they would not dare to sledge Azhar bhai. I don’t think any Pakistan player ever insulted Azhar bhai.

“Azhar bhai used to bat at No 3 and when the likes of Ganguly and Dravid came up, he started batting low down the order and gave the youngsters his slot," he added.

That 90's tram used to indulge in constant sledging whenever they played India. Even in the Carlton and United series of 99/00, the likes of Razzaq used to constantly sledge Tendulkar. Far cry from the 2004 matches we played when apart from Akhtar nobody sledge us.

 

[Hitman]

Anyways, coming to the point, an average of 36 away from home. Enough said!

 

[Bhaijaan]

Most stylish batter of all time. Enough said.

 

[Cricket Warrior]

Former India Captain Mohammad Azharuddin Summoned by ED in Money Laundering Case

Former India cricket team captain and Congress politician Mohammad Azharuddin has been summoned for questioning by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in a money laundering case linked to alleged financial irregularities in the Hyderabad Cricket Association (HCA).

The probe is related to alleged financial irregularities during Azharuddin’s tenure as the president of the HCA for which the ED had conducted searches in November last year.

The 61-year-old former Member of Parliament (MP) has been asked to depose before the federal agency at its office here on October 3, news agency PTI quoted sources as saying.

The money laundering case stems from three FIRs and charge sheets filed by the Telangana anti-corruption bureau (ACB) for alleged criminal misappropriation of the funds of the HCA to the tune of Rs 20 crore.

Azharuddin played 99 Tests and 334 ODIs for India between 1985 and 2000. He scored 15,593 runs across formats including 29 centuries and 79 fifties. Known for his wristy strokeplay, the top-order batter started his career with a bang, blasting three centuries in his first three Tests.

Former India Captain Mohammad Azharuddin Summoned by ED in Money Laundering Case - News18

Mohammad Azharuddin, a former MP, has been asked to depose before the federal agency at its office on October 3.

www.news18.com

 

[TheSultan]

100% a great and a true gentleman!

Pure class as a player too. This flicks, next level. Much better than some of the more mechanical players in his team in the 90s

 

[nish_mate]

Most stylish batter of all time. Enough said.

And the nattiest dresser to come out of Indian changing rooms...

 

[Josh]

100% a great and a true gentleman!

Pure class as a player too. This flicks, next level. Much better than some of the more mechanical players in his team in the 90s

Great but not a gentleman. Gentlemen don't fix the matches. Same goes for some of the Pak greats.

 

[TheSultan]

Great but not a gentleman. Gentlemen don't fix the matches. Same goes for some of the Pak greats.

The 90s were filled with fixers. To this day it is not clear who was/was not involved. There were definitely scapegoats that we knew about. But I firmly believe if we dig deeper we’d uncover quite a few more if not the majority of the 90s players.

 

[Local.Dada]

Is an Indian ATG for sure but won’t be considered due to the fixing stigma he carries.

Kind of like Amir and Asif. I want to really appreciate their skill and talent but their baggage overrides everything.

Obviously in comparison Azhar has had more longevity.

One of the most unique and artistic batsmen of all time.

 

[Local.Dada]

The 90s were filled with fixers. To this day it is not clear who was/was not involved. There were definitely scapegoats that we knew about. But I firmly believe if we dig deeper we’d uncover quite a few more if not the majority of the 90s players.

Everything that has to be dug on 90s fixing has been dug. Any extra info is just gossip and speculation at this point because it has been probably buried forever.

He was guilty. Thats about it.

Was Asif more talented than a player like Kamran Akmal. Absolutely.

Did Kamran Akmal give suspicious performances- yes. Was he caught and proven guilty- no. So it is called “speculation”

 

[Hellion]

His numbers would have been even better had he not been deliberately underperforming .

He and Ajay Jadeja were our best batters after SRT and they had plenty of dodgy performances which cost us big time

Captaincy too was very suspicious like 96 World Cup semifinal and the bowling changes.

 

[Ab Fan]

He is a bit underrated player, obviously far from being an ATG but an all format player and it was under his captaincy that a relatively weaker Indian team beat a stronger Pakistan team three consecutive times in the World Cups in 90s(1992,1996,1999). He set the tone with a 3-0 lead for India over Pakistan in World Cups and that too when in reality, it could have been 3-0 other side.

Remember that Pakistan white ball team had several big names, especially their bowling attack.

 

[Hitman]

Anyone till has any doubts on our emotions? He was a hero for us in the 90's, and he repaid our faith this way.


“I would like to apologise to all my family members who stood right behind me through this...

Azharuddin introduced me to Mukesh Gupta...

I'll be back. Better off than I am now, once I have been punished.”

#OnThisDay in 2000, Hansie Cronje's confession.


View attachment ssstwitter.com_1775885723750.mp4

 

[Hitman]

Forget about being an ATG, he is lucky to have not been paraded on a donkey with a garland of shoes around his neck with an average of 36 away from home in Tests after selling out his team and country to the bookies.​

 

[TheSultan]

Yes he was an ATG. Indians need to move on from forming opinions based on racial, religious, caste and sectarian lines. We see you. Move on.

 

[Vikram1989]

Most corrupt, shameless guy.After all the corruption ,as a Hyderabad cricket association president that scumbag and dishonest sold the Hyderabad ranji team places to ineligible ones.he sold all the association related team places .he sold off the match tickets twice in black market and earning crores.one of the worst person in cricket.hyderabad cricket association is relegated to the bottom tier in ranji with out any meaningful contribution to the indian team.

 

[Honestly]

Not even close to ATG level

 

[charlie007]

Great batter but not an ATG. Those wrists were pure class!

 

[DeadlyVenom]

Stylish player. Silky smooth shots. Not an ATG but fine player

 

[Varun]

Will make an all-time Hyderabad XI at the most.

Has no place in an ATG India Test or ODI side.

 

[Josh]

He was very good player of his time. Fans used to love him but sadly he was also a very good fixer. Made great money for himself by fixing matches.

 

[aarizzler720]

top 100 maybe in terms of all time test batters, only player after sacin who can score runs, at somewhat quick rate, maybe better than ganguly as a test batter, but then even that is close,

 

[Cryin Out Loud]

ATG? No, unless we’re talking of the list of ATG fixers and cheats.

In an ideal world he should have his records expunged and his sole legacy should be this video, played and replayed on an infinite loop.

 

[RedwoodOriginal]

I can't believe we once had a The Shield fan on this board. Where are you @vic mackey ?

 

[Suleiman]

Character, persona + skill wise arguably the best Indian player that ever was. Yes he did what he did, but what choice did he have under such an oppressive regime?? He was a modern day cricket Robin Hood.

 

[BouncerGuy]

ATG???? No way.... Not even near...