HYDERABAD: Cameras! Lights! Action! These words would soon resonate at the historic Gymkhana grounds in Secunderabad where one of the important aspects of the film Azhar would be canned. Emraan Hashmi would be going through the nuances of taking catches and wielding the willow for the Bollywood biopic flick of the former Indian captain.
The Gymkhana holds a special place for Azhar as this was the ground where former chairman of selectors late Raj Singh Dungarpur threw a surprise by asking Mohammad Azharuddin, “Miya, captain banoge?” This was in the morning of January 6, 1989, when Azhar was taking catches.
The stylish Hyderabadi batsman, who was leading South Zone against Central Zone in the Duleep Trophy final, was taken back. He replied “Saab, captain to hoon mai (But Sir, I’m already captain). Azhar had not realised that Dungarpur was offering him the hot seat of Indian captaincy.
Soon, after taking a few catches, according to the biography by Harsha Bhogle, Azhar came back and said to a smiling Dungarpur, “Saab aap bahut badi baat keh rahe hain” (Sir, you are offering me the ultimate). Then Dungarpur asked “Agar captain banaaya gaya to tumko manenga bhi koi? Sab khaliphe hai bade bade”, (Are you sure will be able to control this team if you are made the captain? It is a collection of prima donnas). To this Azhar, then a shy and introvert cricketer, replied, “Mujhe kisise ke saath koi panga nahin hai” (I have no hassles with anyone ) in typical Hyderabadi dialect.
The conversation was over and by evening it was decided that Azharuddin would be the next Indian captain replacing Krishnachari Srikkanth. It was a big news for the cricketer administrators, well-wishers and journalists. A press conference was called after the day’s play and Dungarpur announced in the then dingy room of the secretary PR Man Singh’s office.
The Indian team was reportedly in turmoil with the players’ revolt against the BCCI during the Pakistan tour. It was led by senior players like Krishnamachari Srikanth, Dilip Vengsarkar and others. With India doing reasonably well in Pakistan and if there had not been such rebellion, Srikkanth could have kept his job as captain of the Indian team. But the BCCI were unhappy and decided to go for a change.
For Man Singh and a few others of the Hyderabad Cricket Association (HCA), they had inkling of the change in guard. Man Singh, who was the secretary of HCA, attended the South Zone meeting to pick the team at Chennai where Srikanth was named captain and Azhar as vice-captain. But in turn of events, Srikkanth did not want to play the tournament because of too much of cricket. Even Azhar was planning to pull out but Man Singh told him clearly to play and lead the side. He successfully led the side at Bangalore and South Zone moved to the final which was to be played here.
By now, the selectors were convinced that a new captain will be announced. There were hectic parleys. The selectors like Gundappa Vishwanath, Naren Tamhane, coach Bishen Singh Bedi were housed at Secunderabad Club and Dungarpur at a separate hotel. There were whispered rumours of Azhar getting the job. It was the benefit match of former Hyderabad batsman Sultan Saleem.
Saleem came to know about the selectors’ move on the first day of the five-day final. “I even jokingly asked to Viswanath why not make Azhar as captain. To this Vishy, said you will know tomorrow,’’ recalls Saleem, who was himself a stylish batsman in his heydays.
Saleem even told a few journalists of this sudden development. “A few of the journalists laughed when I told that Azhar will be the new Indian captain.’’
The bumpy Gymkhana turned out to be turning point of Azhar’s career, who later on criticised the ground as one of the worst in the country leading to rebuke from the HCA.
Apart from Gymkhana, other venues like All Saints High School at Gunfoundry, Vittalwadi, Nizam College and Lal Bahadur Stadium could be the other locales for the film. Vittalwadi was the place where he grew up. The residents remember Azhar going out for practice early in the morning.
All Saints School was alma mater of Azharuddin. Brother KM Joseph spotted Azhar as a cricketer in the fourth standard. “He was exceptional. I liked his discipline. He was regular at the nets and was never late. He would come 30 minutes early and was very committed to the game,’’ said Bro. Joseph. Azhar often visits his school for any small occasion.
Of course, Nizam College and Lal Bahadur Stadium were the places where he developed his game. There was a stone at Nizam College which had the inscription ‘Azhar Practiced Here’.
A biopic on Indian cricket’s destiny’s child should have all the excitement, enthusiasm and effectiveness.