Hyderabad: Former India captain Mohammad Azharuddin is all set to play a new innings, this time in politics.
Azharuddin, who is reportedly planning to contest Lok Sabha elections, on Thursday today met Congress leader Veerappa Moily and Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y S Rajasekhara Reddy seeking admission into the party.
Moily said Azharuddin met Congress president Sonia Gandhi in October 2008, but parried a question whether he would be given a party ticket in the elections.
"He (Azharuddin) met us and expressed his desire to serve the Congress party and the country," he said, adding the first step has been taken and there are other procedures to follow regarding admission.
Asked about reports that Azhar could be the Congress candidate in Hyderabad, Moily said: "that's a different matter. He has expressed his desire to join Congress and there is a process of admission. We will take a decision".
He expressed happiness over Azhar's intention to join the Congress and described him as a cricketing icon who was the longest serving Indian captain.
Asked about the ban on Azhar from playing cricket, Moily shot back saying "there is no ban on joining political parties. Forget about it".
The 45-year-old former Indian captain had stopped playing cricket after the Indian cricket board banned him for alleged match-fixing activities in 2000. He has challenged the ban in court.
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