Mohammad Azharuddin – Profile & Biography
Full Name: Mohammad Azharuddin
Date of Birth: February 8, 1963
Place of Birth: Hyderabad, Telangana, India
Nickname: Azhar
Role: Batsman
Batting Style: Right-handed
Bowling Style: Right-arm medium
Religion: Islam
Education: Graduated from Nizam College, Hyderabad
Early Life
Mohammad Azharuddin was born into a middle-class family in Hyderabad. From a young age, he showed a natural flair for batting — graceful, wristy, and technically sound. His cricket journey began at All Saints High School, where his talent quickly got him noticed.
Cricket Career Highlights
- Test Debut: vs England at Kolkata, 31 December 1984
➤ Scored a century (110) on debut. - ODI Debut: vs England, 20 January 1985
Azharuddin made a dream start to his international career, scoring centuries in each of his first three Tests — a record at the time.
Batting Record
- Test Matches: 99
- Runs: 6,215
- Average: 45.03
- Centuries: 22
- ODI Matches: 334
- Runs: 9,378
- Average: 36.92
- Centuries: 7
Captaincy
Azharuddin captained India in the 1990s and was one of the most successful captains of his era, leading India in 47 Test matches and 174 ODIs.
- Test Wins as Captain: 14
- ODI Wins as Captain: 90
He was known for his calm demeanor, brilliant fielding, and elegant wrist play, especially through the leg side.
Controversy & Ban
In 2000, Azharuddin’s career took a dark turn when he was accused of match-fixing.
- The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) imposed a lifetime ban.
- Azharuddin consistently denied the charges.
- In 2012, the Andhra Pradesh High Court lifted the ban, stating it was “unsustainable.”
Post-Cricket Career
After retiring from cricket, Azharuddin entered politics:
- Joined the Indian National Congress (INC).
- Elected as Member of Parliament (MP) from Moradabad, Uttar Pradesh (2009–2014).
- Served as President of Hyderabad Cricket Association (HCA) in 2019.
Personal Life
Azharuddin’s personal life has been widely covered by the media.
- First Wife: Naureen (divorced in 1996)
- Second Wife: Actress Sangeeta Bijlani (divorced later)
- He lost his elder son, Mohammad Ayazuddin, in a tragic road accident in 2011.
Legacy
Despite the controversies, Azharuddin remains admired for his graceful batting and sportsmanship. His unique wristwork inspired future stars like V.V.S. Laxman and Virat Kohli.
Quick Facts
- First Indian cricketer to play 300+ ODIs.
- Known for flick shots off his wrists, often compared to Zaheer Abbas.
- Awarded the Arjuna Award (1986) and Padma Shri (1988).
- A Bollywood biopic titled “Azhar” (2016) starred Emraan Hashmi as him.
Former cricketer Mohammad Azharuddin was sworn in as a minister at Raj Bhavan. Governor Jishnu Dev Verma administered the oath to him at Raj Bhavan. CM Revanth Reddy and ministers attended the event. Azharuddin has 15 ministers in the cabinet.
Meanwhile, speculation is rife over which department Azharuddin will be allotted. There is a debate on whether he will be given a key post or be aligned with the Minority Welfare Department.
Speaking to the media after taking oath, Azharuddin said that he was very happy to have been given the opportunity to become a minister. “My parents and family members are very happy to see me as a minister. I am grateful to the Congress high command, the Chief Minister and the state party leaders for giving me the opportunity to become a minister. I am a special person… All the allegations against me are not true. Kishan Reddy does not have a complete understanding of me. The criticisms being made by BJP and BRS party leaders are not correct. My immediate duty is to make the Congress party win in the Jubilee Hills elections,” Azharuddin said.
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