I want to take the game to all 33 districts, reveals Mohammad Azharuddin

Once banned for life from any involvement, the former Indian captain has returned to the game in an administrative role in his home state. However, the 56-year-old has to first find a way to work alongside Telangana as well. Perhaps an easy way to point out the downslide in cricket in the state is by looking at the fact that since Azharuddin himself and VVS Laxman, no player from the state has consistently featured in the national team.

“I want to have academies and the right coaches. Now we have 33 districts; I want to take the game to the districts. There is a lot of raw and untapped talent there. I want to take care of all this. Currently, about 10 districts are affiliated to the HCA. We will have associate membership for the other districts and then we will give them affiliation. The (Telangana) government is also willing to help us develop cricket in the rural areas,” Azharuddin told Mumbai Mirror.

“I am very disappointed for this, (that) there has not been a single player (of that standard). Except for (Mohammed) Siraj, there is no one in the current scheme of things. There are players who can go on to become big, but they need encouragement and guidance. In the last few years, there was in-fighting among the members of the association. It was an illegal team as the last election was illegal. The whole system was illegal. They started on a wrong note and ended on a wrong note. The players suffered because of dirty politics among the people who were elected at that time,” Azharuddin said.

As far as the current Indian team is concerned, Azharuddin is pleased with their progress. However, he refused to comment on Ravi Shastri’s reappointment as head coach of the team for the next two years.

“I think they are doing well. So far it has been very good. I don’t want to comment on all those things. I don’t want to say who is right or wrong. Yes, the team is doing well. I was very open to coaching also. At the end of the day, God has to decide that. I was very interested in doing that. Now that it is not happening, I have come into administration. I want to do well here,” Azharuddin added.