Editing Mohammad Azharuddin (section)

==Career==
===Debut and early years===
Azharuddin made his international debut for on 31 December 1984. He scored 110 in his first [[innings]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/series/england-tour-of-india-1984-85-61797/india-vs-england-3rd-test-63393/full-scorecard|title=3rd Test, Eden Gardens, December 31, 1984 - January 05, 1985|publisher=ESPNcricinfo|access-date=1 November 2023}}</ref> He subsequently scored two more [[Century (cricket)|centuries]] in his next two Test matches in the series,<ref name="Cent">{{cite web|url=https://stats.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/player/26329.html?class=1;filter=advanced;orderby=start;runsmin1=100;runsval1=runs;template=results;type=batting;view=innings|title=List of centuries, Azharuddin|publisher=ESPNcricinfo|access-date=1 November 2023}}</ref> and became the first player to score three centuries in as many Tests.<ref>{{cite web |title=On This Day In 1985: Azharuddin Became First Batter To Score Centuries In His First Three Tests |url=https://www.news18.com/cricket/on-this-day-in-1985-azharuddin-became-first-batter-to-score-centuries-in-his-first-three-tests-9209327.html |website=News18 |access-date=9 May 2025 |language=en}}</ref> Following the Test series, Azharuddin made his [[One Day International]] (ODI) debut against the same opposition at [[M. Chinnaswamy Stadium]] in [[Bangalore]] on 20 January 1985. He made an [[Not out|unbeaten]] 47.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/series/england-tour-of-india-1984-85-61797/india-vs-england-3rd-odi-64251/full-scorecard|title=3rd ODI, Bengaluru, January 20, 1985, England tour of India|publisher=ESPNcricinfo|access-date=1 November 2023}}</ref> A month later, his unbeaten 93 took his team to victory against [[Pakistan national cricket team|Pakistan]] at the [[World Championship of Cricket]] in a group stage fixture.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Singh |first1=Kush |title=1984 was a forgettable year for India, then Mohammad Azharuddin debuted |url=https://theprint.in/theprint-profile/1984-was-a-forgettable-year-for-india-then-mohammad-azharuddin-debuted/1360989 |website=ThePrint |access-date=9 May 2025 |date=8 February 2023}}</ref>

After a lean patch of form in the Test format, Azharuddin scored his fourth Test century [[Sri Lankan cricket team in India in 1986–87|in 1986 against the visiting Sri Lankans]] in [[Green Park Stadium|Kanpur]]. He made 199, which included a 272-run stand with [[Kapil Dev]] for the sixth in the first innings. The match resulted in a [[Result (cricket)#Draw|draw]].<ref>{{cite web |title=INDIA v SRI LANKA 1986-87 |url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/story/india-v-sri-lanka-1986-87-152000 |website=ESPNcricinfo |access-date=9 May 2025}}</ref>

===Captaincy of national team===
In 1989, Azharuddin was appointed as the captain of the Indian team succeeding [[Krishnamachari Srikkanth]].<ref name="Cric1">{{Cite web|title=India Cricket Team Records & Stats: Test Captains|url=https://stats.espncricinfo.com/nzveng/engine/records/individual/list_captains.html?class=1&id=6&type=team|publisher=ESPNcricinfo|access-date=31 October 2023}}</ref> He led the Indian team in 47 Test matches and 174 One Day Internationals.<ref name="Cric1"/><ref name="Cric2">{{Cite web|title=India Cricket Team Records & Stats: ODI Captains|url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/records/team/individual-list-captains/india-6/one-day-internationals-2|publisher=ESPNcricinfo|access-date=31 October 2023}}</ref> He led the team to victory in 14 tests and 90 ODIs, both records until surpassed by [[Sourav Ganguly]] and [[M.S. Dhoni|MS Dhoni]] respectively.<ref>{{cite news|title=Virat Kohli has to behave like a captain, says Mohammad Azharuddin|url=http://www.indianexpress.com/news/virat-kohli-has-to-behave-like-a-captain-says-mohammad-azharuddin/1148650/|access-date=6 January 2014|newspaper=[[The Indian Express]]|date=30 July 2013}}</ref><ref name="Express">{{Cite news|url=http://indianexpress.com/article/sports/cricket/azhar-movie-trailer-mohammad-azharuddin-emraan-hashmi-2797198/|title=Azhar: Here's all the real-life drama from Mohammad Azharuddin's life|newspaper=[[Indian Express]]|date=13 May 2016|access-date=14 May 2016}}</ref>

During [[Indian cricket team in England in 1990|India's tour of England in 1990]], Azharuddin scored 121 in the first Test at [[Lord's]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=1st Test, Lord's, July 26 - 31, 1990, India tour of England|url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/series/india-tour-of-england-1990-62275/england-vs-india-1st-test-63534/full-scorecard|publisher=ESPNcricinfo|access-date=31 October 2023}}</ref> Though India lost the match, former England cricketer [[Vic Marks]] called it "the most dazzling Test century" he had ever witnessed, in his column for ''[[The Observer]]''.<ref name="guardian1">{{cite news|last1=Smyth |first1=Rob |title=The Joy of Six: England v India memories |url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/blog/2011/jul/22/joy-of-six-england-india-cricket |website=The Guardian |access-date=12 October 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181012182454/https://www.theguardian.com/sport/blog/2011/jul/22/joy-of-six-england-india-cricket |archive-date=12 October 2018 |language=en |date=22 July 2011}}</ref> In the second Test in [[Old Trafford Cricket Ground|Manchester]], Azharuddin scored his tenth Test century, making 179 [[Run (cricket)|runs]] while putting on a 112-run stand with [[Sachin Tendulkar]] in the first innings. Playing his 39th Test, he reached his century off 155 balls.<ref>{{Cite web|title=
2nd Test, Manchester, August 09 - 14, 1990, India tour of England|url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/series/india-tour-of-england-1990-62275/england-vs-india-2nd-test-63535/full-scorecard|publisher=ESPNcricinfo|access-date=31 October 2023}}</ref> Azharuddin ended the series with 426 runs at an average of 85.20 which was the highest tally by an India captain in a Test series in England until it was broken by [[Virat Kohli]] in [[Indian cricket team in England in 2018|2018]].<ref>{{cite news |title=King Kohli Slams 23rd Test Ton, Pips Dhoni & Records he Broke |url=https://www.india.com/sports/india-vs-england-3rd-test-day-3-trent-bridge-icc-no-1-test-batsman-virat-kohli-slams-23rd-test-century-pips-ms-dhoni-joins-sachin-tendulkar-and-other-records-he-broke-3246770/|access-date=1 May 2020|work=India Today|date=20 August 2018|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last1=Bland |first1=Gareth |title=In praise of Azhar |url=http://www.cricketweb.net/in-praise-of-azhar/|website=cricketweb.net|date=17 February 2016|access-date=1 May 2020}}</ref>

===Asia Cup victories and World Cups===
Azharuddin led India to victory in the [[1990–91 Asia Cup]] beating [[Sri Lanka national cricket team|Sri Lanka]] in the final. He scored 54 runs in the final and was named [[Player of the Match awards (cricket)|Man of the Match]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Asia cup final 1990-91, Scorecard|url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/series/asia-cup-1990-91-60913/india-vs-sri-lanka-final-65684/full-scorecard|publisher=ESPNcricinfo|access-date=31 October 2023}}</ref> He then led India at the [[1992 Cricket World Cup|1992 World Cup]] where his team were knocked out in the group stage and finished seventh out of nine teams with two wins in eight matches.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/series/60924.html?view=pointstable|title=Points table, 1992 World cup|publisher=ESPNcricinfo|access-date=31 October 2023}}</ref> India won the [[1995 Asia Cup]] beating Sri Lanka by 8 wickets in the final where Azharuddin captained the side and won the man of the match scoring runs.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/series/pepsi-asia-cup-1994-95-60971/india-vs-sri-lanka-final-65691/full-scorecard|title=Final, Sharjah, April 14, 1995, Pepsi Asia Cup|publisher=ESPNcricinfo|access-date=31 October 2023}}</ref> Azharuddin again led the team in the [[1996 Cricket World Cup|1996 World Cup]] co-hosted by India.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/series/wills-world-cup-1995-96-60981/points-table-standings|title=Points table, 1996 World cup|publisher=ESPNcricinfo|access-date=31 October 2023}}</ref> India finished in third place in the group stage, qualifying for the quarter finals where they beat [[Pakistan national cricket team|Pakistan]] by 39 runs to make it to the semi finals.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/series/wills-world-cup-1995-96-60981/india-vs-pakistan-2nd-qf-65187/full-scorecard|title=2nd QF (D/N), Bengaluru, March 09, 1996, Wills World Cup|publisher=ESPNcricinfo|access-date=31 October 2023}}</ref> India lost in the semifinals to Sri Lanka after the match was abandoned midway due to crowd trouble when India were eight wickets down for 120 runs in response to Sri Lanka's score of 251/8.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/series/wills-world-cup-1995-96-60981/india-vs-sri-lanka-1st-semi-final-65190/full-scorecard|title=1st Semi-Final (D/N), Eden Gardens, March 13, 1996, Wills World Cup|publisher=ESPNcricinfo|access-date=31 October 2023}}</ref>

===Later years===
During the second test of [[South African cricket team in India in 1996–97|South Africa's India tour in 1996–97]] at Kolkata, Azharuddin scored a century off 74 deliveries equaling [[Kapil Dev]]'s record for the fastest test century by an India player and fourth overall, in terms of balls faced.<ref name="109record">{{cite news|last1=Menon|first1=Mohandas|title=Azhar's record breaking knock|url=http://www.expressindia.com/ie/daily/19961130/33550632.html|access-date=18 October 2018|work=[[The Indian Express]]|date=30 November 1996|archive-date=24 April 1997|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/19970424082104/http://www.expressindia.com/ie/daily/19961130/33550632.html|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name="109Calcutta">{{cite news|last1=Jaishankar|first1=Vedam|title=Amazing Azhar onslaught revives India at Eden|url=http://www.expressindia.com/ie/daily/19961130/33550332.html|access-date=18 October 2018|work=The Indian Express|date=30 November 1996|archive-date=24 April 1997|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/19970424081844/http://www.expressindia.com/ie/daily/19961130/33550332.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> Azharuddin scored another century in the next test making an unbeaten 163 and helped India record their biggest win in Test history in terms of runs (280) at the time.<ref>{{cite web|title=Biggest margin|url=http://www.expressindia.com/ie/daily/19961213/34850532.html|work=The Indian Express|access-date=19 October 2018|date=13 December 1996|archive-date=22 April 1997|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/19970422174133/http://www.expressindia.com/ie/daily/19961213/34850532.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> He was named the [[Player of the Match awards (cricket)|man of the match]] and the series after aggregating 388 runs at an average of 77.60<ref>{{cite news|last1=Magazine|first1=Pradeep|title=India wrap up victory quickly|url=http://www.expressindia.com/ie/daily/19961213/34850522.html|access-date=19 October 2018|work=The Indian Express|date=13 December 1996|archive-date=22 April 1997|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/19970422172139/http://www.expressindia.com/ie/daily/19961213/34850522.html|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Cricket Records / Records / South Africa in India Test Series, 1996/97 / Most runs |url=http://stats.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/records/batting/most_runs_career.html?id=376;type=series|publisher=ESPNcricinfo|access-date=31 October 2023}}</ref> Azharuddin scored seven centuries in ODIs with a best of 153 coming against [[Zimbabwe national cricket team|Zimbabwe]] on 9 April 1998 in [[Cuttack]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/series/pepsi-triangular-series-1997-98-61024/india-vs-zimbabwe-5th-match-66141/full-scorecard|title=5th Match, Cuttack, April 09, 1998, Pepsi Triangular Series|publisher=ESPNcricinfo|access-date=31 October 2023}}</ref> He scored the last of his 22 centuries in tests against South Africa in Bangalore in March 2000, which also turned out to be the last test match in his career.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/series/south-africa-tour-of-india-1999-00-61857/india-vs-south-africa-2nd-test-63871/full-scorecard|title=2nd Test, Bengaluru, March 02 - 06, 2000, South Africa tour of India|publisher=ESPNcricinfo|access-date=31 October 2023}}</ref> Azharuddin played the final match of his international career in an ODI against Pakistan on 3 June 2000 in the [[2000 Asia Cup]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/series/asia-cup-2000-61067/india-vs-pakistan-5th-match-65703/full-scorecard|title=5th Match (D/N), Dhaka, June 03, 2000, Asia Cup|publisher=ESPNcricinfo|access-date=31 October 2023}}</ref>

===Match fixing allegations and ban===
During India's tour of [[South Africa]] in 2000, a series that was won by India 3–2, Azharuddin scored only 112 runs at an average of 28.<ref name="sportskeeda.com">{{cite web|url=https://www.sportskeeda.com/cricket/mohammad-azharuddin-match-fixer-full-story-his-ban-lifted|title=Everyone thinks Mohammad Azharuddin was a match-fixer. But what is the full story and why was his ban lifted?|date=12 May 2016 |publisher=Sports Keeda|access-date=1 November 2023}}</ref> he was accused of match fixing in the [[South Africa cricket match fixing|match fixing scandal]] that erupted in the aftermath of the series.<ref>{{cite report|url=http://www.rediff.com/cricket/2000/nov/01full26.htm|title=The CBI Report in Full – Part 26|via=[[Rediff.com]]|date=1 November 2000|access-date=21 December 2010}}</ref> Then captain of [[South Africa national cricket team|South Africa]] [[Hansie Cronje]] stated that Azharuddin was the one to introduce him to [[Bookmaker|bookies]].<ref>{{cite report|url=http://www.rediff.com/cricket/2000/nov/01full25.htm#azza1| title=The CBI Report in Full – Part 25|via=[[Rediff.com]]|date=1 November 2000|access-date=21 December 2010}}</ref> [[International Cricket Council]] and [[Board of Control for Cricket in India|BCCI]] banned Azharuddin for life based on a report by [[Central Bureau of Investigation]].<ref>{{cite report|url=http://www.rediff.com/cricket/2000/nov/01full.htm|title=Full text of the CBI|date=1 November 2000|via=[[Rediff.com]]|publisher=Central Bureau of Investigation, New Delhi|access-date=21 December 2010}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/cricket/4774886/Azharuddin-confesses-all.html|access-date=11 January 2022|title=Azharuddin confesses all|date=2 November 2000}}</ref>

===Post-retirement===
In 2003, a trial court upheld the lifetime ban but it was later overturned on 8 November 2012 by a [[Division bench|divisional bench]] of the [[High Court of Judicature at Hyderabad|Andhra Pradesh High Court]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.deccanherald.com/sports/court-quashes-life-ban-azhar-2372197|title=Court quashes life ban on Azhar|publisher=Deccan Herald|date=8 November 2004|access-date=21 October 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/i-have-come-out-clean-and-proven-many-wrong/article4077225.ece|title=Match fixing scandal|newspaper=[[The Hindu]]|date=8 November 2012|access-date=21 March 2015 }}</ref> In 2019, Azhar was elected as the president of [[Hyderabad Cricket Association]].<ref name="HCA"/>