Former Indian cricket team captain and Congress politician Mohammad Azharuddin has been summoned by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) for questioning in connection with a money laundering investigation. The case is linked to alleged financial irregularities during Azharuddin’s tenure as president of the Hyderabad Cricket Association (HCA). The 61-year-old former cricketer has been asked to appear before the ED at their Hyderabad office today, according to sources quoted by PTI.

The investigation stems from allegations of criminal misappropriation of funds amounting to Rs 20 crore, which were reportedly mishandled during Azharuddin’s leadership at the HCA. The ED’s probe is based on three FIRs and charge sheets filed by the Telangana Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB), which first uncovered the irregularities.

Azharuddin, who served as a Member of Parliament (MP) after joining the Congress party in 2009, had a celebrated cricketing career before his political stint. Between 1985 and 2000, he represented India in 99 Test matches and 334 One-Day Internationals (ODIs), amassing 15,593 runs across formats, with 29 centuries and 79 half-centuries. Known for his elegant, wristy strokeplay, he made an immediate impact in international cricket by scoring centuries in his first three Test matches.

However, Azharuddin’s cricketing career ended abruptly after he was implicated in a match-fixing scandal, which led to a lifetime ban. Though the ban was later overturned, he turned to politics soon after, becoming a prominent figure in the Congress party.

The ED had conducted searches related to the HCA case in November last year. The ongoing investigation focuses on alleged financial discrepancies and the mismanagement of funds during Azharuddin’s tenure as HCA president. The case marks a significant development, as the ED intensifies its probe into the financial dealings of the HCA. Azharuddin is expected to provide his statement to the agency today. Further details are awaited as the investigation progresses