Hyderabad Cricket Body Faces Directive to Erase Azharuddin’s Name from Stadium Stand

The Hyderabad Cricket Association (HCA) has been instructed to remove the name of former Indian cricket captain Mohammed Azharuddin from the North Pavilion Stand at the Rajiv Gandhi International Cricket Stadium in Uppal, Hyderabad. The order, issued by HCA Ethics Officer and Ombudsman Justice V. Eswaraiah on April 19, 2025, also prohibits the HCA from printing tickets bearing Azharuddin’s name, citing a conflict of interest.

The controversy stems from a decision made in 2019, when Azharuddin, then HCA president, oversaw an Apex Council meeting that renamed the North Pavilion Stand previously known as the VVS Laxman Pavilion after himself. On February 28, 2025, the Lords Cricket Club (LCC), one of HCA’s 226 affiliated units, filed a complaint, arguing that this action violated Rule 38 of the HCA’s regulations, which prohibits Apex Council members from making decisions that personally benefit them. The LCC further requested that the stand revert to being called the VVS Laxman Stand for all purposes, including signage and ticketing.

In a detailed 25-page ruling, Justice Eswaraiah stated that Azharuddin’s decision lacked ratification or modification by the HCA’s General Body, reinforcing the case against him. “The fact that there has been no ratification/modification of the decision by the General Body further strengthens the case against the Respondent No. 1 (Azharuddin), as the Respondent No. 1 has exceeded his authority to benefit himself,” Eswaraiah noted.

The LCC expressed relief at the decision. Somna Misra, the club’s treasurer said, “This decision reinforces our commitment to transparency and integrity.”

The HCA has acknowledged receipt of the order and is expected to comply, ensuring that Azharuddin’s name is removed from the stadium stand and future ticketing materials.