Azhar too snubs Sports Ministry call

It was another no-show at the Sports Ministry on Wednesday as former India cricket captain Mohammad Azharuddin too chose not to appear before the one-man panel to explain why his Arjuna award should not be withdrawn.

Azhar, who along with Ajay Jadeja and Manoj Prabhakar were found guilty of match-fixing practices by the CBI and the Board of Control for Cricket in India's internal inquiry, had been issued a show-cause notice by the government which said it is considering taking back the Arjuna award conferred on him.

Joint secretary in the sports ministry J P Singh, before whom Azhar had to appear at 11 this morning, told waiting media persons at noon that Azhar would not come.

"He was to come at 11. It's already 12. He won't come now," Singh said.

Prabhakar did not turn up on Monday and Singh said Jadeja, who is to appear on Wednesday, was also unlikely to come.

Azhar, who has been slapped with a life-ban by the BCCI following his indictment, was conferred the national sports honour in 1986.

Mail Cricket Editor