Ganguly: 'Time for Azhar to take a stance and clear his name'

[J P K]

Mohammad Azharuddin should take a strong stance following the claims made against him by Vinod Kambli and put an end to all the "whispers" surrounding the former skipper's name, says Sourav Ganguly. "Azhar should take a stance. It's upto him how he deals with it. But the time has come for Azhar to clear his name. There are too many whispers going around," Ganguly said when asked about Kambli's claims that the 1996 World Cup semi-final between India and Sri Lanka could have been fixed. Ganguly also rubbished Kambli's claim that the match at the Eden Gardens ruined his career. "His (Kambli's) claim that his career was finished because of that game is rubbish. How can that game ruin his career, he was not out then," Ganguly told 'Headlines Today'. Ganguly said the decision to field could have been the result of Sri Lanka's earlier league match against India at the Feroz Shah Kotla in New Delhi, where Sri Lanka chased down 270-odd runs with ease. "I can sympathise with Azhar. I can understand the reasons of putting Sri Lanka in. If you remember Sri Lanka chased 270-odd runs in Delhi in an earlier match." Ganguly further hoped that Kambli has his facts right. Meanwhile, 1983 World Cup winning skipper Kapil Dev asked if Kambli was sleeping all these 15 years. The media should not give credence to all this statements, Kapil felt. Kambli, a former Indian cricketer who has often been embroiled in controversies both on and off the field, on Thursday raised suspicion on the 1996 World Cup semi-final between India and Sri Lanka and said he found "something amiss" in the game.

[bulbul]

he needs lot of Nirma to clean up his name....

[saneindian]

He will not take this matter to court as this will ensure further troubles for him. I won't be surprised if Azhar now hides behind the privilege he enjoys as a MP and tackles Kambli using that.

[sumvell]

wrong timing by kambli (exactly like his timing towards the end of his playing days) to bring Azhar's name up. The felllow just lost his son. Even if he was a cheater, atleast give him time to grieve.

[CSK Fan]

^^^^ Yep, saw him on a TV channel debating the same issue. the guy seemed aged so much

[jonas10]

Maybe god waited 15 years to punish him.

[Jersey #10]

This guy is an idiot, he's rakhi sawant of the sports world. Why does the media give him so much attention? The guy doesn't talk sense for the most part plus acts as if he's something. He thinks Sachin owes him and that the world has been unfair with him. To Kambli, deal with it dude, it's been over 15 years. We know you need money but that doesn't mean you point fingers at people for no reason.

[CSK Fan]

Maybe god waited 15 years to punish him.

And what did the innocent boy to get killed in his prime. God spares murders, looters of the country while millions starve, but God punishes a guy by killing his son, because of a game of cricket? Get a perspective

[jairamesh]

Time for Azhar to take a stance and clear his name

has he cleared his name in his 1st stance yet?