The Hyderabad Cricket Association (HCA) has been directed to remove Mohammad Azharuddin’s name from the North Pavilion Stand at the Rajiv Gandhi International Cricket Stadium in Uppal. The decision was passed by Justice V Eswaraiah, the Ethics Officer and Ombudsman of the HCA, on Saturday following a petition filed by Lords Cricket Club.
The order prohibits the printing of tickets with Azharuddin’s name on them going forward, terming the original naming decision as a clear case of conflict of interest.
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Justice Eswaraiah stated, “The fact that there has been no ratification/modification of the decision by the General Body further strengthens the case against the Respondent No. 1 (Azharuddin), as the Respondent No. 1 has exceeded his authority to benefit himself. In consequence of my findings, a clear case of conflict of interest is made out.”
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The complaint by Lords Cricket Club challenged the legality and propriety of renaming the stand without proper approval, arguing that the space should remain the “VVS Laxman Pavilion.” The petition urged the Ombudsman to reverse what it called a “high-handed” act and reinstate the stand’s former title “for all practical purposes including but not limited to signages, printing of tickets etc.”
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It was further contended that the renaming was “illegal, arbitrary and there is no decision of the General Body or Apex Council for incorporating the ‘Mohammad Azharuddin Stand’ above the name of the ‘VVS Laxman Pavilion’.”
The HCA is now expected to implement the changes as per the Ombudsman’s ruling.
