BCCI blames DDCA official for Mohammmad Azharuddin's entry in playing area: Report

The BCCI has criticised DDCA for letting Mohammad Azharuddin interact with players at the Feroze Shah Kotla.

New Delhi: The BCCI has criticised Delhi and District Cricket Association (DDCA) for letting banned former skipper Mohammad Azharuddin interact with players at the Feroze Shah Kotla. Azhar was said to be present in the playing area during a Ranji tie between Delhi and Vidarbha last Sunday.

According to a report in the Hindustan Times, the BCCI shot two letters to the DDCA questioning the presence of Azharuddin.

Azhar was reported to be seated with Delhi vice-president, Chetan Chauhan. The Indian cricket board cleared Chauhan but criticised the anti-corruption officer for the match.

BCCI has clearly asked DDCA not to appoint such officals who have compromised with the protocols especially the cleanliness around players and match officals. Anil Mishra is the official who was selected by DDCA for this role and his post has now been switched with anti-doping official, Manoj Chaudhary.

This entire issue has presented the shortages in functioning of the DDCA. The state board needs to be more careful in order not to allow more goof-ups in the future.

Further reports claim that in August, the BCCI had asked all state bodies to nominate three people to attend a workshop on antidoping and anti-corruption before the season began.

Azhar was banned from cricket in 2000 for his involvement in match-fixing.