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HCA Told To Remove Mohammed Azharuddin’s Name From Uppal Stadium Stand

Rajgeeta Yadav

HCA Told To Remove Mohammed Azharuddin's name [Source: @sportstarweb/X.com]HCA Told To Remove Mohammed Azharuddin's name [Source: @sportstarweb/X.com]

Former Indian captain Mohammed Azharuddin is in the spotlight again, but this time for the wrong reasons. According to a report by Cricbuzz, the Hyderabad Cricket Association (HCA) has been ordered to remove his name from the North Pavilion Stand at the Rajiv Gandhi International Cricket Stadium in Uppal, Hyderabad.

This decision came after a complaint by Lords Cricket Club, which led to an order by Justice V. Eswaraiah, the HCA's ethics officer and ombudsman.

Azharuddin Renamed Pavilion After Himself in 2019

The issue started when Azharuddin, who was the president of HCA in 2019, decided to rename the stand from "VVS Laxman Pavilion" to "Mohammed Azharuddin Stand" during a meeting in that same year. 

The Lords Cricket Club argued that this decision was a conflict of interest, as Azharuddin, in his position, was making a personal decision that benefited him. The club pointed out that the decision had not been approved or ratified by the HCA’s General Body, making it illegal and against the rules.

The complaint was originally filed by Lords Cricket Club, who argued that Azharuddin’s move was unfair and against the rules. According to Rule 38, anyone in the Apex Council of HCA cannot make personal decisions that benefit themselves. The club demanded that the stand’s name go back to VVS Laxman Pavilion and stop using Azharuddin’s name on tickets and signage.

Justice Eswaraiah Orders Pavilion to Return to Original Name

In his 25-page ruling, Justice Eswaraiah confirmed that Azharuddin had overstepped his authority by naming the stand after himself. He said that no one from the General Body had approved this change, further supporting the claim that there was a conflict of interest. The Lords Cricket Club had asked for the stand to be returned to its original name, the "VVS Laxman Pavilion."

The treasurer of Lords Cricket Club, Somna Misra, welcomed the verdict, saying it supports fairness and transparency. The HCA has now been clearly instructed not to print Azharuddin’s name on tickets or use it for the stand anymore.

Meanwhile, the original name, VVS Laxman Pavilion, is likely to be restored and used officially moving forward.