People taking advantage of my silence: Azhar

Breaking his silence since being named in the CBI report on matchfixing and betting, former Indian skipper Mohammed Azharuddin said on Sunday that people were taking advantage of his silence and "it is high time I speak out."

"People were taking advantage of my silence," Azharuddin told PTI over the phone in his in his first comments after being named in the CBI report on match-fixing and added that he was pained over speculative reports involving his name in media.

"Every other day there is one story or the other on me. People are trying to take advantage of my silence. It is high time that I speak out," said Azharuddin, who has been banned for life by the BCCI.

As his sudden appearance at Iftaar parties, including one hosted by Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu last week, triggered controversies and speculations, the former captain said he had attended the Iftaar hosted by the Andhra Pradesh CM on an official invitation.

"I attended the Iftaar parties on invitation. I don't know why my name is being dragged into the controversy so much," Azharuddin who remained imcommunicado ever since he was named in the match-fixing controversy, said.

"I went to the Iftaar party hosted by the Chief Minister on December 22 on an invitation sent by the General Adminstration Department (GAD) and my name figures against serial number 17," Azharuddin said.