Mohammad Azharuddin summoned by ED in corruption case involving HCA (Photo Source : Hindustan Times)
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has summoned former India cricketer Mohammad Azharuddin on grounds of a money laundering case involving the Hyderabad Cricket Association (HCA). The ex-India captain has been charged with misappropriating funds during his reign as the president of the association.
A sum of INR 20 crore worth of funds was allocated to improve Hyderabad’s Rajiv Gandhi International Cricket Stadium’s facilities. Buying diesel generators, firefighting systems, and canopies were some of the tasks which were needed to be carried out with the fund.
Azharuddin has been booked on money laundering charges and is expected to appear before the ED on Thursday, October 3. The ED is looking to find out whether the INR 20 crore funds were appropriately used by the 61-year-old during his tenure at the HCA.
Azharuddin, who is also a leader with Indian National Congress (INC), however, denied the allegations, calling them “false” and politically motivated during an interview. “This is just a stunt pulled by my rivals to ruin my reputation,” the Hyderabad-born said.
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Hyderabad government talks to BCCI to set up new cricket stadium
While Azharuddin’s news comes as a dampener, everything isn’t gloomy in Hyderabad cricket at this point. For the unversed, the state government is planning to construct a brand-new international cricket stadium on the outskirts of the city.
Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy revealed in the assembly that talks with BCCI are in motion and allocated a substantial INR 321 crore to sports from the 2024-25 state budget.
Interestingly, this initiative could give Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) a new home ground, as they have been playing their home games at the Rajiv Gandhi International Cricket Stadium. Sunrisers Hyderabad are former IPL champions, having won the title under David Warner’s astute leadership in 2016. They had a fantastic chance of winning their second title after playing an enterprising brand of cricket in IPL 2024 under Pat Cummins. However, they couldn’t clear the final hurdle, losing to Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in the lopsided summit clash.