Mohammed Azharuddin
For close to two years, former Indian cricket captain and star batsman, Mohammed Azharuddin, has been leading a life of near obscurity. Apart from the fleeting public appearances, Azhar has been largely confined to his Banjara Hills residence in Hyderabad. His association with cricket has also been tenuous ever since the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) slapped a life ban on him in 2000. However, Azhar's belief that he would one day bounce back in the game, and be recognised for his achievements despite the ban, remained steadfast. That hope almost came true when a month ago Wisden Asia's managing director and former Test player, Yujuvindra Singh, sent Azhar and 15 other nominees a 'contract.' The former captain was told that he was one of the nominees for Wisden's Greatest Indian Cricketer of the Century award. For Azhar, this was clearly the moment of reckoning. Would the Wisden tag help him get rid of the match-fixing stigma? Would his nomination and presence at the function at London's Wembley Conference Centre facilitate his return to cricket, and more importantly, restore his credibility among his peers around the world? But Azhar's hopes were dashed before they could take wings. He was unceremoniously told that he was not welcome.

Why didn't you go for the Wisden function in London?
You should put that question to the authorities in Wisden on why they decided to pull back at the last moment. Yujuvindra Singh got in touch with me in Hyderabad, asking me if I would come for the function in London where they were going to select the greatest Indian cricketer of the century. He sent me a contract which I filled and sent back. It stipulated that I would be invited for the function and I would have to give some media interviews. In fact, I was also supposed to play in some exhibition match at Lord's the next day after the function.

What happened thereafter?
A person called Anthony Bouchier (managing director of Quintus, a UK sports programming giant) called me up one day to say that they had made a mistake and that they would not be sending me the air tickets. There was no explanation for this decision. I didn't say a word and put the phone down on him.

Then how come you were in London when the awards were being presented?
I am here on personal work. It has nothing to do with the awards ceremony. I will be here for some more time before I go back home early next month.

Has Wisden apologised for the goof-up since then? Did anybody contact you to explain the embarrassment caused to you?
Nothing. Not a word. You can't treat a person so shabbily. Why did they (Wisden) start the process in the first place? If they had problems, then why go through the motions at all? This is humiliating to say the least. And finally, Wisden did not have the courtesy to inform me or write on why they decided not to invite me at the last moment. People like Ajit Wadekar and Atul Wassan were invited....

What is your opinion of Wisden after this unsavoury episode? Has it changed?
I don't have any opinion. In fact, I don't want to form an opinion. This is disgusting. That is all I will say. It leaves a bad taste in the mouth.

Are you planning any legal action?
I don't want to say anything now.But yes, I will talk to my lawyers.

Would you say that some people lobbied against your presence at the function?
I don't want to get into all that. But maybe, because of certain reasons which I would not like to spell out now, some among the 16 shortlisted for the award worked against me.

How does it feel to be among the sixteen players shortlisted for the greatest Indian cricketer of the century award?
It is a great honour to be clubbed alongside them. All of them were outstanding players and I am happy to be mentioned in the same breath. I am touched.

What are your thoughts on Kapil Dev bagging the award for the greatest cricketer?
Paaji deserves it thoroughly. He was one of the best all-rounders who brought honour to the country. I couldn't agree more. To bag over 400 wickets and bat like he did is indeed a rare accomplishment. What's more important is that he brought home the World Cup in 1983 when nobody really fancied our chances. In fact, when I heard the news, I lost no time and congratulated him. He truly deserves the honour.

There were several cricketers who had a good word for you at the function. Kapil fired the first salvo and said you should have been there. Even Gundappa Rao Vishwanath those similar sentiments. What is your reaction to this?
I am really happy that I have some support in the cricketing world. When Kapil mentioned that I deserved to be among the nominees, I was touched. It made me feel proud. Even former BCCI president Raj Singh Dungarpur had some good words for me. I got to know what people had to say about my absence the next day in the newspapers.