A timeline of Mohammad Azharuddin's match-fixing saga

Mohammad Azharuddin had burst on to the international cricketing arena like a thunderbolt, scoring three back to back Test centuries in his first three Tests in the year 1985.

Soon, the Hyderabadi youngster was able to carve a niche for himself. He was elegant when it came to batting, athletic when it came to fielding and unique when it came to carrying himself on and off the field.

Azhar was destined to become a household name in Indian cricket after being handed over the national captaincy in 1990. He led India to three World Cups, a feat which hasn't been replicated by any other Indian captain till date. The record books (14 and 90 Test and ODI wins respectively) still suggests the fact that the right-hander has been one of the best captains of India.

However, all that glitters is not gold. Azhar's international career nosedived after he was reported involved in match-fixing and was banned by Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI). The ban was eventually lifted by Andhra Pradesh High Court in 2012 as no clear evidence was found against the former captain.

As the movie 'Azhar' releases on Friday, which also promises to unveil a lot of unknown facts about the match-fixing saga, here's a flash back of the events that led to Azhar's downfall:-

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April 7, 2000 Delhi police claims possession of a telephonic conversation recording between South African skipper Hansie Cronje and bookie Sanjay Chawla which leads to Cronje being charged for match-fixing. Cronje's three other teammates, Herschelle Gibbs, Nicky Boje and Pieter Strydom are also implicated in the case.

April 8, 2000 The United Cricket Board of South Africa (UCBSA) and Cronje deny involvement of South African players in any kind of fixation of games.

April 11, 2000 Cronje is sacked as captain of the team after he confesses to Cricket South Africa’s managing director Ali Bacher that he had not been 'entirely honest'. He admits receiving $10,000 to 15,000 for 'providing information and forecast but not match-fixing' during the India series in 2000.

April 28, 2000 Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) is called to action by the Indian government to probe the match-fixing allegations and to find out whether any Indian cricketer or official was involved.

June 7, 2000 The King Commission in South Africa begins investigating the case. South African players Pat Symcox, Gibbs, Henry Williams and Strydom comes out in the court and testifies that they had been offered money by Cronje to perform badly in various games of the India tour.

June 15, 2000 Cronje releases a statement where his contact with bookmakers is revealed. Cronje tells the King Commission that Azharuddin had introduced him to a bookie who offered him money to throw a 1996 Test match during South Africa's tour of India. Azhar rubbishes the claims.

July 20, 2000 CBI raids houses of the top Indian cricketers – Azharuddin, Ajay Jadeja, Nayan Mongia and Nikhil Chopra and the then Indian coach, Kapil Dev but nothing suspicious are recovered from the homes.

August 28, 2000 Gibbs and Williams are banned for four months. Strydom is freed from charges.

During CBI investigation, Azharuddin reportedly confesses that he had fixed three ODIs; the first against South Africa at Rajkot in 1996, then Pepsi Cup matches in Sri Lanka in 1997 and Pakistan in 1999. But then in an interview he denies being involved in any such activity.

October 31, 2000 The CBI releases report which talks about Azhar's confession about match-fixing and reveals the fact that the then Indian captain had taken help from his teammates Ajay Jadeja and Nayan Mongia for carrying out the fixing activities.

November 27, 2000 BCCI finds Azhar guilty of match fixing. Jadeja, Manoj Prabhakar, Ajay Sharma and former Indian team physio Ali Irani also brought to book for having links with bookies. Mongia and Kapil Dev declared not guilty.

December 5, 2000 Azhar and Ajay Sharma suspended for life by BCCI. Jadeja handed five-year ban while Prabhakar and Irani banned from holding a post in Indian cricket for five years.

January 2003 Jadeja’s ban was overturned by the Delhi High Court, citing no proof of his involvement in match fixing.

November 8, 2012 The Andhra Pradesh High Court lifts the life ban on Azharuddin, terming it as 'unsustainable'.

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