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Mohammed Azharuddin
"This victory alone is not the change we seek -
it is only the chance for us to make that change."
— Mohammed Azharuddin, MP, Moradabad
Mohammed Azharuddin was born to Mohammad Azizuddin and mother Yousuf Sultana on 8th of February, 1963 in Hyderabad, state of Andhra Pradesh, India.

He completed his schooling from the famous All Saint High School in Hyderabad, and graduated from Nizam College, under Osmania University, in Hyderabad.

Azhar received his inspiration to become a national level cricket player from his grand father Mir Vajehuddin and was selected in Indian Cricket team in the year 1984.

He played his first test match against England at Eden Gardens in Kolkata on 31st of December 1984.

Azhar made the nation glad by hitting his first century on this very day, which was very critical to his career. This was the 3rd of 5 match test series. Azhar hit another century in 4th test played at Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai, including remarkable 18 boundaries during this game. Everyone was mesmerized by his batting skills. The 5th and last match of the series was played at Green Park in Kanpur. Azhar enthralled India by hiting again a century along with sixteen 4s off his bat. India lost the series but Azhar had won as a stylish batsman world over.
Azhar had become the first person in the world to hit 3 consecutive centuries on debut; the Golden Debut. He never looked back afterward during his tenure as a batsman until 2000.

Azhar was married to a simple homely girl Naureen in 1987 and who borne him two sons Asad and Ayaz.

Azhar remained the most successful captain of Indian Cricket team during most of 1990s and won many accolades to his team and country both.

Some of his achievements during this period include:
  • Azhar is the only player in the world to have hit three consecutive centuries in first three Tests

  • Azhar is the only player in the world who has taken 156 catches in One Day International (ODI) Cricket

  • Azhar has been the most successful Cricket captain in India ever, by winning highest number of Test matches (14) and ODI matches (103) during his captaincy.

  • Azhar is the only batsman to hit fastest ever ODI century by an Indian off 62 balls, against New Zealand, in 1988-89.

  • Azhar is the first player who has played more than 300 ODIs during his tenure.

  • Azhar won Wisden Cricketer of the Year Award in 1991.

  • It was Azhar who led the team that defeated England on its own land by 3-0 during 1992-93.

  • He played 99 Test Cricket matches and hit 22 centuries, with an average score of 45 runs.

  • He played 334 One Day International (ODI) Cricket matches and hit 7 centuries with an average of 37 runs.

  • He is the first player who scored centuries in his first and last test matches.

  • He won his first political election as an Indian National Congress candidate from Moradabad constituency in 2009.

It was Azharuddin whose grace and fluidity of his wrist had once prompted John Woodcock, a noted cricket writer, to say, "It's no use asking an Englishman to bat like Mohammed Azharuddin. For, it would be like expecting a greyhound to win the London Derby!"

Azhar joined Indian National Congress in 2009 and won Indian Parliamentary Elections from Moradabad constituency in Uttar Pradesh and by defeating BJP candidate Sarvesh singh chauhan with a large margin. A Member of Parliament (MP), Azhar is actively engaged in Indian politics, committed to the service of his constituency.

One of Azhar’s sons Mohammad Ashaduddin, popularly known as Abbas, is following his father’s footprint into Cricket.