Ranaghat, West Bengal: Former India cricket skipper Mohammad Azharuddin, who was himself banned by BCCI for fixing matches, said the 'spot-fixing' allegations concerning Pakistani cricketers should be investigated properly by the International Cricket Council (ICC).
Look who's talking
"It is a sensitive issue and matter of investigation by the ICC," Azharuddin told reporters here.
"The ICC is investigating the matter and the guilty, if found, should be punished," he added.
Azhar was in the town to attend a Congress party meeting. World cricket was rocked by the spot-fixing scam last Sunday after 'News of the World' posted a 'sting operation' video showing an alleged fixer Mazhar Majeed making bowlers Mohammad Aamir and Mohammad Asif bowl deliberate no-balls during the fourth Test against England at Lord's.
The bookie also claimed to have links with Indian bookmakers.
It may be remembered that at the turn of the century, Azharuddin, Ajay Jadeja and Nayan Mongia were allegedly involved in a match-fixing conspiracy.
Life bans were imposed on Mohammed Azharuddin and Ajay Sharma by the Cricket Board in the wake of the CBI report on the scandal. Five-year bans were handed to Ajay Jadeja and Manoj Prabhakar as well.
In fact, three international captains Hansie Cronje (South Africa), Salim Malik (Pakistan) and Mohammed Azharuddin (India) were banned for life for helping to influence the results of matches.
Collar turned up, a swagger that oozed confidence, and wrists sent from heaven- that was the Mohammad Azharuddin we knew. The Indian captain who made his international debut in 1985 was an icon. The world was again shocked when allegations were made that while Azhar was making runs for India, he was also fixing matches.
In 2000, Hansie Cronje revealed in his confession, that it was Azhar who introduced him to some Indian bookies. A CBI probe was ordered, and an investigation revealed that the Hyderabadi had taken money to fix matches, and brought in other players as well into the nefarious ring. He was found guilty by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and banned for life. He never got to play his 100th Test match, for the ban meant that his career finished at 99 Tests.
Azharuddin is now a sitting Congress MP from Moradabad, Uttar Pradesh. While the focus is now on Azharuddin the politician, the match-fixing taint will stick to him for life, much like the chewing gum that he was always seen with on the field.
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