Mohammed Azharuddin
Published : May 10, 2003 00:00 IST
Former Indian captain Mohammed Azharuddin (Pic. P. V. Sivakumar) intends to open a school to groom young players for international cricket. Azharuddin, 40, received a life ban from the game three years ago for match-fixing, but an appeal is still pending.
He said he plans to start a "world class" academy in his home town of Hyderabad. "I want to produce international cricketers for India," Azharuddin said during a television, interview, stressing the ban imposed on him by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) should not interfere with his plans.
"I do not see any reason why I need to take permission to start an academy or to do commentary. I think I can do a lot of justice to the country. I can make sure that the academy runs well and hopefully produce international cricketers."
The residential academy will be managed by Azharuddin's former Hyderabad team-mate Kanwaljit Singh, one of the most successful off-spinners in domestic cricket.