Exclusive Interview : Former Captain Indian Cricket Team Mohammed Azharuddin

Deep inside the defying aura of glamour and popularity, Mohammed Azharuddin is dewy-eyed, candid in conversation and exudes a relentless charm. As the cameras flutter to capture his charisma once again, the legendary cricketer, with an affable smile on his face, humbly accords to answer our inquisitions. Here are abstracts from the interview:

Mohammed Azharuddin, has not only been the best of India’s handful few all rounders of the game, but also one of the most tried cricketers in the history of Indian cricket. Devoid of the gravity of many allegations that continued to be his shadow for along time, one of India’s biggest cricket mavens when asked about these rough patches says:

---

“Patience is my biggest strength. In all turbulences I have been through, patience was my closely guarded strength. I have always been patient, and never lost faith in myself and the Almighty.”

---

 He adds “you cannot achieve anything unless you have patience, and if you have the right dose of it, success comes easy”.

Speaking about the most memorable moments of his career, the former captain of Indian Cricket team says “the first three hundreds are my most favourite” before quickly adding “every match that we won is memorable”.

On many occasions, the stardust of his yesteryears instantly magnetises his prodigious fanbase who do not seem to be affected by the fact that it has been years since Azhar bid the greens for the pavilions. The aura continues to sparkle and hasn’t subsided any considerably. It continues to be his companion. All the time.

So, what keeps him going?

A celebrity of coveted stature and former Member of Parliament, Azharuddin credits his success to his sanctimonious alter persona – his splendid faith and confidence – undeterred – even in the most trialling times of his personal and professional life.

But there’s more to him. The other side of life. The truths. The joyrides and the career disasters. These triumphs and traumas will ride the Bollywood tide of biopics in 2016. Dubbed “Azhar”, a trailer of the Azharuddin’s movie has already jumped millions of hits on the internet with actor Emraan Hashmi getting into the skin of the character for the lead role.

---

Our unending curiosity is gradually treated to a pacifying comment.  “The biopic is closely knitted and projects almost all aspects of my life and career”, he says while admitting to have trained Emraan Hashmi intricately for this movie. And why not, it easily makes to the list of most awaited flicks of 2016.

---

Meanwhile, Azhar’s son Asaduddin Abbas walks in. We had just devoured on a lavish Hyderabadi cuisine sequestrated at the residence of Mr. Iftekhar Shareef – India’s first dual citizen and Chairman of Federation of Indian Associations (Chicago). The waterfall of responses had now ceased its flow.

I enquired again. One last question. Seeking a critique on his son (Asaduddin Abbas’s) cricketing career and he says “Asad has a good game. A little more practice and he will likely be playing for India”.

Mohammed Azharuddin is generous enough to autograph his regards on the scribble pad that we espoused for this interview.

We opportunistically stole a brief moment for a candid group photograph before he fluxed into the corridor where youngsters at the guarded grill were still waiting. Now, with greater hope as if the moment they have been waiting for has finally come.

As they walked out, the crowd swung their hands up in the air, rising to cease a selfie moment as the father-son duo began exchanging pleasantries with the other guests.

Liked the feature? Follow us on Facebook and Google Plus to stay updated.

This interview was taken by Syed Khaled Shahbaaz, a techie-turned-journalist. He may reached at syedkhaledshahbaaz@gmail.com or +91-9652828710