Ready for second innings, Mohammad Azharuddin's son pads up for Congress

Indian Express

17 hours ago

'Cricket is always close to my heart. I will always carry it in me.'
For Telangana Congress leader Mohammed Asaduddin, cricket is an integral part of his identity because of his father Mohammad Azharuddin, but it is one he decided not to pursue despite making it to the Ranji level. Instead, the 35-year-old has opted to follow in his father's footsteps into politics, which was Azharuddin's choice of career after his cricketing days were over, and on Thursday was appointed a state Congress general secretary.
Azhar, as the former India captain is popularly known to cricket fans, was a popular cricketer because of his stylish batting, sharp fielding skills, and for leading India to victories in 14 tests and 90 ODIs. After hanging up his cap, he saw success in his second innings as a Congress politician, getting elected to the Lok Sabha from Moradabad in Uttar Pradesh in 2009. Since then, he has faced electoral setbacks, first losing the Lok Sabha contest from Tonk-Sawai Madhopur in 2014 and the 2023 Telangana Assembly polls from his home turf of Jubilee Hills in Hyderabad.
However, it was the 2023 campaign that convinced Asaduddin to join politics. He had been selected to represent Hyderabad in the 2018-19 Ranji Trophy, but lost crucial years of his sporting career to the Covid-19 pandemic. 'I lost the peak of my career to Covid-19, when matches were rare. But I never despaired because, at heart, I always knew that I would work for the people,' Asaduddin said.
He joined the party and spent two years with the Youth Congress as its sports secretary. Then came his father's unsuccessful Assembly election campaign, which the 35-year-old said was a big learning experience. 'Throughout this campaign, I was by my father's side and learnt the ropes of politics from him. Before that, in 2009, I had observed him keenly as a political student,' said Asaduddin, who is married to tennis player Sania Mirza's sister Anam.
About his appointment, Asaduddin told The Indian Express, 'I was always inclined towards social service and have been working with minorities, the poor and those from socially marginalised backgrounds.'
His induction into the party aligns with the Congress's Muslim outreach initiative in Telangana. The Jubilee Hills constituency, for one, houses over a lakh Muslim voters. 'The Congress has always stood by minorities,' Asaduddin said.
Responding to his son's elevation, Azharuddin wrote on social media, 'Proud and emotional moment for me as my son, Mohammed Asaduddin, steps into his official role in public life as the general secretary of the Telangana Congress. I have seen his commitment to people, his passion for service and his sincerity up close. May he stay grounded, focused, guided by the values that truly matter.'
Asaduddin, however, does not yet know his role in the party. 'All the general secretaries of the party will meet the TPCC president (and sitting MLC B Mahesh Kumar Goud) soon,' he said.
Along with Asaduddin, several other Muslim leaders, including TPCC vice-presidents Nawab Mujahed Alam Khan and Afser Yousuf Zai, and general secretaries Mohammed Abdul Faheem, Rahmath Hussain and Mohammed Shabir Ali, were also given key roles.
'The Congress has a legacy of safeguarding minority rights and promoting inclusive development. The newly appointed Muslim leaders bring with them years of grassroots experience and social commitment, and their elevation reflects the Congress's dedication to ensuring political representation for every section of society,' said state party spokesperson Syed Nizamuddin.