Give players a second chance: Azharuddin
The banned exIndia skipper says Sreesanth should be allowed to play
Former India skipper, Mohammad Azharuddin, who was banned for life in 2000 on charges of match-fixing, urged cricket authorities to let those who have served punishment for corruption in the game to return to playing.
Azharuddin was banned by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) after an internal probe following a Central Bureau of Investigation report into match-fixing in India.
He fought a long court battle, and the Andhra Pradesh High Court eventually ruled the ban illegal in 2012. In January, he was ruled ineligible to contest the Hyderabad Cricket Association elections.
ANYONE CAN MAKE MISTAKES
Azharuddin, who has served as a Lok Sabha MP, said on Thursday: “Anyone can make mistakes… such cricketers should be given a second chance.” He was answering a question on S Sreesanth.
The former India pacer was banned by BCCI for alleged involvement in the 2013 IPL spotfixing scandal. The Delhi High Court dismissed the case registered by the Delhi Police under provisions for organised crime (MCOCA). Sreesanth has not been allowed to play any official cricket and recently, the BCCI refused him permission to play in Scotland. Azharuddin also criticised owners of the Rising Pune Supergiants for replacing former India skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni with Steve Smith as captain of the IPL team. “Dhoni has remained a big captain (sic) and does not deserve such ill-treatment”, he said. “The IPL is about India and Indian players should be given more opportunity than less experienced foreign cricketers,” he added.
Anyone can make mistakes… such cricketers should be given a second chance. AZHAR, on Sreesanth