Mohammad Azharuddin served as the president of the Hyderabad Cricket Association (HCA) in 2019. In an unexpected development, the HCA has been directed to remove Azharuddin’s name from the North Pavilion stand at the Rajiv Gandhi International Cricket Stadium in Hyderabad.
The decision follows a controversy after Azharuddin renamed the stand after himself, replacing its earlier dedication as the VVS Laxman Pavilion. This move was challenged by Lord’s Cricket Club, which filed a petition claiming that Azharuddin bypassed official procedures and acted in self-interest.
Acting on the petition, HCA Ethics Officer and Ombudsman, Justice V Eswaraiah, ruled in favour of Lord’s Cricket Club, ordering the reversal of the name change.
No tickets will be issued under Mohammad Azharuddin’s name at the Uppal Stadium.
The Hyderabad Cricket Association (HCA) has decided to remove Azharuddin’s name from the North Pavilion Stand at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium. The stand will once again be renamed the VVS Laxman Pavilion. Additionally, no match tickets will be printed bearing Azharuddin’s name. It’s worth noting that Azharuddin, a former Indian captain, also previously served as the HCA President. VVS Laxman, on the other hand, is widely regarded as one of India’s greatest Test batsmen.
Azharuddin represented India between 1984 and 2000, featuring in 99 Test matches and 334 One-Day Internationals (ODIs). Over his international career, he amassed more than 15,000 runs and registered 29 centuries.
Meanwhile, the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium continues to serve as the home ground for Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) in the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 season.
Pat Cummins and his side have struggled so far, managing just two wins from seven matches, with five losses placing them ninth on the points table with four points. The stadium will next host SRH’s clash against the Mumbai Indians (MI) on Wednesday, April 23.