rediff.com
rediff.com
News
      HOME | NEWS | PTI | REPORT
December 25, 2000

MESSAGE BOARD
NEWSLINKS
US EDITION
COLUMNISTS
DIARY
SPECIALS
INTERVIEWS
CAPITAL BUZZ
REDIFF POLL
DEAR REDIFF
ELECTIONS
ARCHIVES
SEARCH REDIFF



 Search the Internet
           Tips

E-Mail this report to a friend

Print this page

People taking advantage of my silence: Azhar

Former Indian skipper Mohammed Azharuddin on Monday said, "People were taking advantage of my silence," adding he was pained over speculative reports involving his name in media.

"Every other day there is one story or the other on me. People are trying to take advantage of my silence. It is high time that I speak out," Azhar banned said.

He asserted that he attended the Iftar hosted by Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu on an official invitation.

"I attended Iftar parties on invitation. I don't know why my name is being dragged into a controversy," Azhar who remained incommunicado ever since he was named in the match-fixing controversy, said.

"I went to the Iftar party hosted by the chief minister on December 22 on an invitation sent by the General Administration Department and my name figures against serial number 17," Azharuddin said.

Expressing concern over reports in a section of press which quoted chief minister as saying that he did not invite Azhar, 'but if somebody greets you at a function, you just cannot brush him aside', Azhar said, "Such reports would embarrass people."

"It may be handiwork of some vested interests to malign my image," he said.

Azharuddin, however did not take any further questions, "I have nothing to add. I thought I should come out with the true version on this controversy ," he said.

GAD officials were not available for comments.

The stylish Hyderabadi batsman was cynosure at the Iftar parties hosted by Majlis Ithehadul-Muslameen chief Salauddin Owasi, where he shared the table with Naidu on December 20 and also at Naidu's Iftar two days later.

Azhar has remained elusive to media after being named by CBI in the match fixing scandal.

ALSO SEE
Match-fixing scandal

Back to top
(c) Copyright 2000 PTI. All rights reserved. Republication or redistribution of PTI content, including by framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent.

Tell us what you think of this report

HOME | NEWS | CRICKET | MONEY | SPORTS | MOVIES | CHAT | BROADBAND | TRAVEL
ASTROLOGY | NEWSLINKS | BOOK SHOP | MUSIC SHOP | GIFT SHOP | HOTEL BOOKINGS
AIR/RAIL | WEDDING | ROMANCE | WEATHER | WOMEN | E-CARDS | EDUCATION
HOMEPAGES | FREE MESSENGER | FREE EMAIL | CONTESTS | FEEDBACK