HYDERABAD: Former BCCI interim president N Shivlal Yadav termed Hyderabad Cricket Association (HCA) president Mohd Azharuddin’s volte face after the elections as the great ‘betrayal’ of the trust placed in him by the club secretaries.
“Before the elections, he used to call and speak to us on various matters related to the association but once he was elected, he started ignoring us all. We have no vested interest. We only wanted to help him in streamlining things and see that cricket and cricketers do not suffer. What is shocking for me is that we have played so many Tests for India together. This is not the way he treats senior players, who have been at the helm of affairs for so many years,” Shivlal said during a press meet.
Shivlal, along with former HCA president Arshad Ayub and former secretary T Shesh Narayan, lambasted Azharuddin for messing up things in the HCA. “He is behaving like a dictator and has thrown all constitutional norms to the wind. There is no area where he hasn’t violated the rule book,” Shivlal said.
The trio also averred that the elections will be held in September this year. “There is nothing in the court order to stop the election from being conducted. It will happen in September and the process has to be started a month before by appointing an electoral officer,” Arshad said.
“In fact, the president has said during an official meeting that he will not follow the rules. This has been written in the minutes of the meeting. How can a person, who is supposed to uphold the Constitution, say such a thing?” Arshad questioned.
The former officials alleged that Azharuddin had turned the HCA into a one-man show. They said that he has appointed selectors, who are not qualified, and was doling out various assignments to people who toe his line. “His mantra is my way or the highway. He is harassing all those who question his activities and issues letters to them. He has been threatening the secretaries that their clubs will not be allowed to play in the league,” Arshad said.
“He has in fact stopped a few clubs from participating in the T20 League. How can he do it? The BCCI has a record of the clubs with it. The president cannot decide which club will be allowed to play and which not,” Arshad added.
“He is violating the norms laid down by the Supreme Court. This is nothing but contempt of court and he should be hauled up. Taking advantage of the Apex Court order, he has become an ombudsman too. An ombudsman is appointed by the AGM and it is he who will take cognizance of disputes arising in the HCA. How can Azhar act like the ombudsman and bar clubs from participating in the leagues,” said Shesh Narayan.
Shesh also said that no audited accounts for the last three years have been presented in the AGM. “How is the BCCI keeping quiet? Normally, the BCCI releases funds only after the submission of the audited report which has been approved in the AGM. But because of his proximity with the BCCI president and others, Azhar has managed to get the funds released. This has only led to misappropriation of funds. Huge sums of money are being squandered on frivolous things while cricket and cricketers suffer,” Shesh added.
Asked about the corruption charges hanging over the previous office bearers, Shivlal said, “When one is in public office, allegations will be made. But those allegations are to be proved. The case is being heard and let’s wait for the verdict.”
Arshad said that the rivals are only indulging in mudslinging without any evidence. “Such a huge stadium of international standards has been built in Shivlal’s tenure. We have won several awards for the ground. Could all this be done without sincerity and hard work. These people are indulging in all kinds of corruption and, therefore, are trying to tarnish the others. Azhar may have played over 400 matches but he has zero administration experience and that’s why he has messed up things,” he said.
