In December 2000, BCCI had imposed a life ban on Azharuddin for his role in match-fixing.
In December 2000, BCCI had imposed a life ban on Azharuddin for his role in match-fixing. However, after a long drawn out legal battle, he saw the Andhra Pradesh High Court lifting the ban and terming it "illegal" in 2012.
In an interview with cricketpakistan.com website, Azharuddin recalled the darkest phase of his life and said, "I don't want to blame anyone for what happened. I really don't know the reasons for banning me...
"...But I had decided to fight it and I am grateful that after 12 years I got cleared. I felt very satisfied when after being elected president of Hyderabad association I went and attended the BCCI AGM meeting."
Having made his debut in 1984, Azharuddin represented India in 99 Tests, scoring 6125 runs at an average of 45 with 22 hundreds. He also played 334 ODIs and amassed 9378 runs at 36.92, including 7 centuries and 58 fifties.
In 2019, Azharuddin had a stand named after him at the Rajiv Gandhi International Cricket Stadium in Hyderabad. He rung the bell at the Eden Gardens ahead of an India match the year before and the redemption continued when he was included in a group of former cricketers honoured with a lap around the iconic ground during India's maiden day-night Test against Bangladesh.
He might have missed his 100th Test appearance by just one game, but Azharuddin has no regrets.
"I am a firm believer in fate and whatever is in your destiny it happens. I look at this way that nowadays if a player is a class act he ends up playing more than 100 Tests. So I don't think this record of 99 Test matches that I hold is going to be broken," he remarked.
Azharuddin, who led the Indian team in 47 Tests and 174 ODIs, said he considered himself fortunate to have got the opportunity to represent India for a long period.
"I played for around 16 to 17 years and I captained for around 10 years. What more can I ask for," he stated.