After starting his international career on a high, he struck centuries in his first three Tests at home against England, and leading in three consecutive World Cups from 1992, Azharuddin fell from grace on being named in the match-fixing scandal in 2000. The plan also involved the former South Africa captain Hansie Cronje, who later passed away in a plane crash, and several others from the Indian team.

But since receiving the life ban from the BCCI then, Azharuddin's journey has attempted to slowly return to the fray. That started with the uplifting of the life ban in 2012 before choosing to stand for the HCA President’s post for the first time in 2017. But his nomination was dismissed owing to a doubt over the BCCI lifting or staying his life ban.

But Azharuddin, who ended up representing India in 99 Tests and 334 ODIs and remained a prominent figure in the Indian middle-order during his days, found smooth success in his second crack to be the HCA President.