Azharuddin denies he is entering politics

BANGALORE: Former India cricket captain Mohammed Azharuddin on Wednesday visited the Janata Dal-Secular (JD-S) office here to wish his friend and former medium pacer Dodda Ganesh who was joining the party, but denied he was joining politics himself.

"My presence at this function has no meaning other than wishing my 'brother' Ganesh on his new role," Azharuddin said, adding there was no other significance to his presence at the function.

Azharuddin's statement comes in the wake of intense speculation in Karnataka political circles that he might be joining the JD-S as he met the party's president and former prime minister H.D. Deve Gowda along with Ganesh Monday.

Gowda claimed that it was Azharuddin who had advised Ganesh to choose the JD-S over other parties because of its secular credentials.

Ganesh did not make a mark playing for India in the 1996-97 tour of South Africa and West Indies but has a rich haul in first class cricket. He played only four Tests and a single one-day international. But in 104 first class games the right arm medium pacer has taken 365 wickets and scored 2,023 runs that include a 100 in a Ranji Trophy match.

The 34-year-old medium pacer announced his retirement from all forms of cricket earlier this month.