HYDERABAD: The Telangana High Court on Tuesday issued interim orders restraining the Hyderabad Cricket Association (HCA) from removing former Indian captain Mohammad Azharuddin’s name from the North Stand of the Rajiv Gandhi International Cricket Stadium in Uppal, Hyderabad.
Justice Palla Karthik, who heard the petition filed by Azharuddin, directed the HCA not to take any coercive steps in the matter until further orders are passed. The court also adjourned the hearing to a later date.
The dispute arose after HCA ombudsman Justice Vang Eshwarayya recently issued an order directing that Azharuddin’s name be removed from the North Stand. Challenging this directive, Azharuddin filed a writ petition in the High Court, asserting that he had served Indian cricket with distinction—captaining the national team for a decade and playing for nearly two decades.
His counsel argued that the ombudsman’s order lacked merit and requested the court to stay its execution. After hearing the submissions, Justice Palla Karthik ruled that no action should be taken regarding the name removal until further notice.
The development has stirred considerable interest in the cricketing community, with many viewing it as a matter of recognition for Azharuddin’s contributions to Indian cricket.
