Former Indian skipper Mohammed Azharuddin has expressed pain over the Hyderabad Cricket Association (HCA) Ombudsman’s order to remove his name from the North Stand at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium.

Azharuddin, who led India in 47 Test matches and 174 ODIs, called the situation “heartbreaking” and a “complete disgrace to the sport.”

"It pains me deeply to say this, but I sometimes regret having played cricket. It’s heartbreaking to see individuals with little to no understanding of the game now in positions to teach and lead. It’s a complete disgrace to the sport," Azharuddin told IANS.

Azharuddin intends to take legal action and he also called for Board of Control for Cricket in India’s (BCCI) intervention.

"I am determined to pursue legal action against this injustice, and I urge the BCCI to intervene and take appropriate action. This issue isn’t isolated – Sunrisers Hyderabad also had a dispute with the association over passes, highlighting a pattern of mismanagement and conflict," the former captain said.

Azharuddin further added that the situation has become personal, especially after he was barred from contesting the HCA elections.

"What’s unfolding is beyond comprehension, and it hurts me on a personal level. I was not allowed to contest the HCA elections, simply because I exposed the corruption within the system. That truth made me a target," he stated.

The decision to remove Azharuddin’s name from the stadium stand was taken by Justice (Retd) V. Eswaraiah, the HCA’s ethics officer, following a petition filed by Lords Cricket Club — a member unit of the state association.

The petition argued that Azharuddin, during his tenure as HCA president, took several arbitrary decisions. It pointed specifically to an Apex Council meeting in December 2019, just a month after he took office, where a resolution was passed to name the North Stand after him.

According to HCA regulations, such resolutions need approval from the General Body, which was reportedly not sought.