Oh Azhar, what might have been?

[Sachinism]

The first verse of Pink Floyd's Poles Apart has a haunting line dedicated to Syd Barrett, the band's founder-member: "Did you know...it was all going to go so wrong for you?" Nearly three decades on from an Eden Gardens debut that excited and captivated in equal measure, thousands of Indians must now be asking the same of Mohammad Azharuddin. Having scored centuries in each of his first three Tests, he also made hundreds in three of his five games as Indian captain. One of those, a magical 121 at Lord's in a lost cause (1990), still has old-timers reaching for the superlatives. He led India in the same number of Tests as Sunil Gavaskar (47) and won more (14 to nine). But for the two losses against Pakistan in 1999, one of them in the nascent Asian Test Championship, he might conceivably have played 100 Tests. Instead, he was dropped despite making 87 in his last outing as captain, a draw in Colombo. He would make his return more than a year later, injecting some stroke-filled defiance into a meek Indian surrender against South Africa in Bangalore. At the time, some pointed out the cavalier, almost reckless nature, of his strokeplay. Others appreciated that he had summed up his limitations against quality pace and decided to tilt at windmills. It was his 99th Test, and his last. Neither he nor Hansie Cronje would represent their countries again. None of the charges against him were ever proved in a court of law, but the stain stuck, and there is no more divisive figure in Indian cricket. To some, he remains a hero who fell from grace. For others, he's not better than a Judas. We expect a lot from our sporting heroes, and when they fail to live up to expectations, we lash out with the fury of the scorned lover. A select few, like George Best, whose tribulations with alcohol were an open secret long before he left the game, find a measure of sympathetic acceptance. Others, like Tiger Woods and Ryan Giggs, get excoriated for being imperfect role models. We seldom stop to ask ourselves how well these young men are equipped to handle stardom. Even those that come from stable and loving homes quickly come under the spell of opportunists and good-time friends. That is most certainly the case in Indian cricket. So many player agents are not qualified to do the job. They see a star and hitch their wagon to it. Some of these characters can even be seen sniffing around Under-19 tournaments, eager to sink their hook into the next big thing. Add to that a retinue of celebrities who have cottoned on to cricket's place at the heart of the Indian psyche and you have a cocktail that will only result in a bad hangover. Once upon a time, when sport wasn't awash with money, fear could keep some in check. A disciplinarian coach or manager, or a ruthless selection panel, could send the right message. Now, when you can potentially make enough in six weeks to be set for life, the threats sound hollow. "For some people it happens too early," said Lee Sharpe, a Manchester United starlet who lost his way, in an interview a few years ago. "But as much as people were saying, 'Oh yeah you can do all this when you retire,' well you can't. You can't do things you want to do at 19 when you're 35. I'll more than likely be married with kids at 35. I suppose I got punished for wanting to be a 19-year-old." The man who replaced him in Old Trafford's affections, Giggs for all the recent unsavoury revelations about his private life is now the most decorated club footballer in the game's history. Sharpe chased the ephemeral and is now a what-might-have-been tale. Giggs, despite going off the straight and narrow, never forgot that it was sport that had given him everything. As Azhar mourns a son, and some of us think back to a distinguished career that had the most wretched ending, we can only hope that today's heroes-in-the-making avoid fame's pitfalls. At the same time, we need to recognise our own culpability. "Why did we tell you then, you were always the golden boy then?" goes the song. "And that you'd never lose that light in your eyes." http://www.sunday-guardian.com/sports/oh-azhar-what-might-have-been

[ganeshran]

One of my favorite players when I was growing up. The wristy shots were pure magic. But he betrayed everyone's trust and deserved what came to him.

[punjabiplaya]

One of my favorite players when I was growing up. The wristy shots were pure magic. But he betrayed everyone's trust and deserved what came to him.

true... i saw him play in the 90s when he came to the uk,but if you watch some of the matches when sachin was captain...you have to agree with sachin, azhar never always gave 100 percent! for sachin to say that is something!! when you play for india you have to give 100 percent!! if you take money not too,i feel always you should have all your achievements looked on with suspicion!!

[Sachin=GOD]

brilliant batsman but I doubt any Indian fan will ever forgive him.

[Blue Panther]

brilliant batsman but I doubt any Indian fan will ever forgive him.

Those who have selected him as a M.P have already forgiven him.

[ganeshran]

Those who have selected him as a M.P have already forgiven him.

Not really. They selected him as a politician, not as a cricketer. His cricketing sins will never go away.

[Number]

I watched him playing in his last 3 years .. barring 2-3 innings he was an average player. and then match fixing scandal , so never liked him.

[ganeshran]

I watched him playing in his last 3 years .. barring 2-3 innings he was an average player. and then match fixing scandal ' date=' so never liked him.[/quote'] In his prime, he was a delight to watch. Had that swagger. Beautiful wristy shots and very good fielder in the slips. He was certainly an asset in the team. Too bad, he had to throw it away for money.

[Blue Panther]

Not really. They selected him as a politician' date=' not as a cricketer. His cricketing sins will never go away.[/quote'] he is famous in politics because he was a cricketer.

[kevinpp24]

In his prime' date=' he was a delight to watch. Had that swagger. Beautiful wristy shots and very good fielder in the slips. He was certainly an asset in the team. Too bad, he had to throw it away for money.[/quote'] may be should have followed what wrote in your signature :winky:

[Number]

In his prime' date=' he was a delight to watch. Had that swagger. Beautiful wristy shots and very good fielder in the slips. He was certainly an asset in the team. Too bad, he had to throw it away for money.[/quote'] yep , I usually watch old videos , mostly he looked a good player to me in his prime.Sometimes Laxman mentioned him that he used to idealize Azhar as a batsman(hyderabad connection) and that's why wristy flicks and pulls are his favorite shots. His quick collects and throws were really a cracking bit of fielding. One of my uncles used to be a big fan of him. He (uncle) was heart broken after match-fixing saga and just stopped following the game.

[Sachin=GOD]

Those who have selected him as a M.P have already forgiven him.

actually he was thrust upon the people in a constituency where there were no good opposition candidates.

Not really. They selected him as a politician' date=' not as a cricketer. His cricketing sins will never go away.[/quote'] He is as much a politician as someone like Govinda was.

[Lord]

sad what happened to him recently,but hate him for fixing

[Sir john]

he was a great talented batsman. i like him for his batting.

[SachDan]

sad what happened to him recently' date='but hate him for fixing[/quote'] :ditto:

[TheYuvi02]

i really liked his batting but now everytime i see this guy on tv i change the channel

[Rightarmfast]

Remember watching Azhar playing live in a friendly match in Patna against Imran Khan XI. I was a kid but I remember his fielding vividly. He was a livewire on the field. People will disagree but I found Azhar to be a better fielder than Jonty. Reason - He was an amazing fielder all across the stadium, unlike Jonty whose speciality was point. If someone says Azhar did not give 100%, they need to watch Azhar's innings in SA against a raging storm named Donald . Donald had already got India reeling to a low score, and his abuses and racial comments against Indians and particularly Rahul dravid made Azhar so mad, he literally made mincemeat of Donald that day. I have seen few test innings like that century from Azhar on a bouncy and a seaming wicket as that. There are many shades of reality. Its tough to judge few by just loose comments made by people.

[Cricket Tragic]

No, Jonty was not a specialist at point. He fielded at midwicket when Symcox bowled and often on the boundary in the end overs. He has also fielded in the slips in test cricket. Also, the Donald incident was in the ODI series final but the innings you're talking about was in Cape Town in the second test match.

[akshayxyz]

Purely in terms of fielding, there are very few names that can be taken in same breath as Jonty Rhodes', and Azhar's isn't one of them. Azhar's fielding skills were exaggerated by the way he quickly used to get rid of the ball (after picking) - which was not always accurate.

[Cricket Tragic]

Anyone remember Derek Crookes? The guy was an insane fielder as well.