In a major relief to the former Indian cricket captain Mohammad Azharuddin, the Andhra Pradesh high court today termed the life ban imposed by the BCCI as illegal. The court also said the ban is unsustainable by law. Azhar was banned for life from playing all forms of cricket by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) in 2000 for match-fixing. Azharuddin had challenged the BCCI's decision in the court. Meanwhile, reacting on the court's verdict, BCCI Chief Rajiv Shukla said that the legal team of BCCI will analyze it first and only then will respond on the matter. Although, the BCCI had considered lifting the ban in 2006, the International Cricket Council had stepped in and claimed only the ICC had the jurisdiction to lift the ban. Meanwhile, the supporters of Azhar gathered outside his resident in Hyderabad to celebrate the moment of joy.
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