Azhar (2016) Timeline Explained – Every Event in Order

Azhar accepted 10 million rupees from the London-based bookie M.K. Sharma to underperform in a match against Sri Lanka. The film presents this as a moment of weakness during his career, where the lure of easy money combined with the pressures of maintaining his elite status led him to make a terrible decision. However, he later returned the money after delivering a match-winning innings, creating ambiguity about his true intentions and motive.

• match-fixing
• bribe
• London bookie
• Sri Lanka match
• 10 million rupees

The match-fixing allegations surfaced when Azhar's name appeared connected to a London-based bookie known as M.K. Sharma (whispered about as Shaun). The bookie, disguised as a diamond merchant, had approached Azhar with the bribe offer. The scandal broke publicly through sting operations conducted by Manoj (the teammate Azhar had conflicts with) on other cricketers like Ravi and Navjot, which then led to investigations into Azhar's involvement.

• match-fixing allegations
• bookie scandal
• sting operations
• M.K. Sharma

Naureen refused to testify against Azhar despite the prosecutor Meera's efforts to enlist her as a witness. The film portrays Naureen as still having emotional ties to Azhar despite their divorce. Even though she was heartbroken by his affair with Sangeeta and the public scandal, she could not bring herself to publicly testify against him, suggesting lingering feelings despite the betrayal.

• Naureen
• testify
• prosecutor
• court case
• divorce

During a match against the West Indies, Azhar quarreled with teammate Manoj over a slow run rate. Azhar was pushing for a faster pace to complete his century, but Manoj resisted. The team lost the match as a result of this internal conflict. Manoj was subsequently dropped from the next match, which humiliated him and fueled his desire for revenge against Azhar, eventually leading him to conduct the sting operations that exposed the match-fixing scandal.

• West Indies
• Manoj
• run rate
• team conflict
• dropped

After an eight-year legal battle, Azhar was cleared when the court lifted the ban imposed by the cricket board. His lawyer Ramakanth Reddy successfully challenged the bias of the inquiry report (financed by the Cricket Board) and questioned the credibility of the sting tapes since none of the witnesses were sworn under oath. The defense also highlighted that while Azhar had accepted the money, he had returned it after delivering a match-winning performance, creating reasonable doubt about his intent.

• court verdict
• ban lifted
• legal battle
• innocence
• appeal

Azhar returned the 10 million rupees after delivering a match-winning innings against Sri Lanka. The film presents this as a moment of redemption, suggesting that his competitive spirit and pride in his performance override the temptation of easy money. This fact became crucial in his legal defense, as it demonstrated that he did not follow through with the fix and may have accepted the money out of temptation but not intended to actually throw the match.

• returned money
• match-winning innings
• Sri Lanka
• redemption
• bribe

Azhar met Sangeeta Bijlani, a former Miss India and Bollywood star, during an advertising shoot and was drawn to her beauty. Despite Sangeeta being aware that Azhar was married, their romance developed secretly. The affair was eventually exposed when a gossip magazine published the story, triggering a public scandal. Naureen, devastated by the betrayal, asked for a divorce, and Azhar left his first wife to marry Sangeeta.

• Sangeeta Bijlani
• affair
• divorce
• Naureen
• gossip magazine

The sting operations were conducted by Manoj (the teammate Azhar had conflicted with) on cricketers Ravi, Navjot, and others. These secretly recorded conversations formed the core evidence that prosecutor Meera used to build her case against Azhar. The tapes revealed conversations about match-fixing and linked Azhar to the London bookie network. However, Azhar's defense challenged the tapes' credibility because none of the witnesses were sworn under oath.

• sting operations
• evidence
• tapes
• investigation
• cricketers

Kapil Dev, one of India's cricket legends, publicly expressed belief in Azhar's innocence during the case. Kapil had been a teammate and had supported Azhar early in his captaincy career, encouraging him to embrace the leadership role despite resistance from senior players. His public support at the final verdict showed loyalty to his former teammate, believing that Azhar's mistake of accepting the money did not make him guilty of match-fixing.

• Kapil Dev
• support
• teammates
• cricket legend
• loyalty

Azhar was appointed captain after India suffered a defeat to Pakistan in 1991. The Board president invited Azhar to a private meeting and offered him the captaincy, despite some senior teammates resisting the idea of answering to a younger player. Kapil Dev provided crucial support and encouragement, urging Azhar to focus on his duties and embrace the leadership role, marking a major turning point in his career.

• captain
• captaincy
• Pakistan loss
• 1991
• Board president

Azhar's grandfather nurturing his dream of playing 100 Tests for India. Born in 1963 in Hyderabad to a middle-class family, Azhar was guided by his grandfather's quiet encouragement from an early age. The grandfather's dream became a driving force for the young cricketer, and even when Azhar received news of his grandfather's death on the day of a crucial Mumbai selection match, he chose to play in accordance with his grandfather's last wish, impressing selectors with his resolve.

• grandfather
• Hyderabad
• 100 Tests
• dream
• selection match

After the affair with Sangeeta Bijlani was exposed by a gossip magazine, Naureen was heartbroken and confronted Azhar. Despite Sangeeta initially cautioning him to stay away, the relationship had deepened beyond control. Naureen asked for a divorce, and Azhar chose to leave his first wife to pursue marriage with Sangeeta. The public scandal added another layer of scrutiny to his already controversy-laden life and career.

• divorce
• Naureen
• Sangeeta
• marriage
• scandal

Azhar's lawyer Ramakanth Reddy successfully argued that the inquiry report commissioned by the Cricket Board was biased because it was financed by the same body that had imposed the ban on Azhar. This financial connection created a conflict of interest, as the Board was essentially investigating itself. Reddy used this argument to challenge the report's credibility and strengthen Azhar's appeal against the lifetime ban.

• inquiry report
• Cricket Board
• bias
• legal argument
• appeal