Azhar too does not appear before Sports Ministry panel

It was another no-show at the Sports Ministry in New Delhi on Tuesday with former Indian cricket captain Mohammad Azharuddin choosing not to appear before a one-man panel to explain why the Arjuna Award conferred on him should not be withdrawn.

Azhar, who along with Ajay Jadeja and Manoj Prabhakar has been found guilty of match-fixing practices by the CBI and the Board of Control for Cricket in India's internal inquiry, had been issued a show-cause notice by the Government which said it was considering taking back the Arjuna Awards conferred on all the tainted players.

Joint Secretary JP Singh, before whom Azhar had to appear at 11 am on Tuesday, told waiting mediapersons at noon that Azhar would not come. "He was to come at 11 (o'clock). It's already 12. He won't come now," Singh said.

Prabhakar too had not turned up on Monday and Singh said Jadeja, who is to appear on Wednesday, was also unlikely to come.

Azhar, who has been slapped with a life-ban by the BCCI following his indictment, was conferred the national honour in 1986.