The Board of Control for Cricket in India on Friday chose to budge from their earlier stand and extend an invitation to former national skipper Mohammad Azharuddin for the Indian cricket team's historic 500th Test match.Reportedly Azharuddin too has accepted the invitation. The 500th game will see India lock horns with New Zealand at Kanpur starting from September 22.
Azharuddin was given a life ban for allegedly involving in match-fixing when the scandal first stole the limelight in 2000. While the 53-year old has been cleared by the court, the national cricket governing body have been quite reluctant to invite him for official events like this one.When senior BCCI functionary Rajeev Shukla was asked about Azharuddin being invited, Shukla said, "He is also a former India captain.”
Also Read: BCCI set to felicitate all former Indian captains during '500th Test'
In all, India have had 32 captains starting from CK Nayudu to the current one Virat Kohli and will join England (976), Australia (791) and West Indies (517) in reaching the 500 mark.
Former captains including the likes of Nari Contractor, Chandu Borde, Sunil Gavaskar, Kapil Dev, Dilip Vengsarkar, Ravi Shastri, Krishnamachari Srikkanth, Sachin Tendulkar, Sourav Ganguly, Virender Sehwag are expected to make it to the Green Park stadium. Present India A’ coach Rahul Dravid, and senior team coach Anil Kumble are also likely to come for the event.
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"Sachin, Vengsarkar, Srikkanth and Azhar have confirmed that they would come for felicitation. Ajit Wadekar has informed board that he is not keeping well and won't be able to attend," UPCA secretary Shukla said.
On Thursday, Shukla had said, “The BCCI wants to felicitate all the former captains during the Test match. Green Park is one of the first four Test venues in India along with Chepauk, Wankhede and Eden Gardens. It will be a fitting tribute to all those former captains who could be present on the occasion.”A specially minted silver coin with 500th Test embossed on it is being prepared for the toss.
A packed home season comprising of as many as 13 Tests will kick start with the 3-match series against New Zealand at the Green Park Stadium.
The Blackcaps have already arrived in the country to acclimatize with the weather conditions. They will be led by Kane Williamson who has already said the tour will be a tough one.
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