The Hyderabad Cricket Association (HCA) has been ordered to remove the name of Mohammad Azharuddin from the North Pavilion Stand of the Rajiv Gandhi International Cricket Stadium, Uppal, Hyderabad. The cricket governing body has also been asked to make sure that no tickets are printed with the name of the former India batter henceforth. The order was passed by Justice V Eswaraiah, Ethics Officer and Ombudsman of the HCA, on Saturday, April 19.

The Ombudsman was acting on the petition filed by the Lords Cricket Club. He ordered that it is a matter of conflict of interest as Azharuddin, an ex-India captain and ex-HCA president, has taken a personal decision in his own favour.

"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. In consequence of my findings, a clear case of conflict of interest is made out," Justice V Eswaraiah declared in his 25-page verdict.

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Petitioner Lords Cricket Club pleaded with the Ombudsman to do away with the 'high handed' action of Azharuddin in naming the North Stand as Mohammed Azharuddin Stand. They wanted the VVS Laxman Stand to be used "for all practical purposes including but not limited to signages, printing of tickets etc. and pass any such order or orders as are deemed fit and proper in the circumstances of the case and in the interest of justice."

It was asserted that the action of Azharuddin is illegal, arbitrary, and there is no decision of the General Body or Apex Council for incorporating the "Mohammed Azharuddin Stand" above the name of the "VVS Laxman Pavilion".

Laxman, who is the current Head of Cricket at the National Cricket Academy (NCA) in Bengaluru, is one of the finest Test cricketers to have played for India from Hyderabad. The 50-year-old played 134 Tests and 86 ODIs in his illustrious career and finished with 8781 and 2338 runs in the two formats, respectively. Laxman, who is currently serving as the head of the National Cricket Academy (NCA), has also coached the Indian team on an interim basis.