Underworld don Babloo Srivastava has queered the pitch for Mohammad Azharuddin. According to him, the former captain of the Indian cricket team is safe because he enjoys close relations with crime lords like Dawood Ibrahim and others.

Azhar, who lives in Hyderabad's posh Banjara Hills locality, was recently provided security cover after intelligence reports from Mumbai police suggested that the 'D' company wanted to eliminate the stylish batsman. Feroz Aziz Khan alias Yousuf, a sharpshooter arrested in Aurangabad on August 3, allegedly revealed that Chhota Shakeel had paid a huge supari (contract) to a sharpshooter to carry out the killing. Gangster Abu Salem's name was also mentioned as part of the conspiracy.

Srivastava however claims the cops are wrong about the threat to Azhar's life.

"I don't think there can be any threat to his life. He himself has relations with the underworld. He has links with them and he is in touch with people who are in police record books. Now if he is so close to the underworld, why would anyone threaten him? I am sure he has links with Dawood and his men," insists the man who is currently facing trial in the murder case of a businessman.

Once thought close to Dawood, Srivastava's relations with the Dubai don later soured. Some days back he announced his intention to write a book titled Adhure Khwab in which he would expose 'everything' about Dawood and his criminal activities.

When contacted, Azhar lost no time in dismissing the charges levelled by Srivastava.

"Any allegation about my links with the underworld is rubbish and holds no ground. I prefer not to react to such baseless accusations," said the former cricketer.

Despite the police reports, Azhar finds it hard to believe that anyone from the world of organised crime could be out to kill him.

According to him: "I am moving freely wherever I want. I have been provided security cover and I accepted it because the police think my life is in danger. But personally I have never received any threats."

Although the cops have so far given no credible reason why Azhar is on a mafia hit list, some law enforcement officers suggest there could be a financial dispute dating back to the time when Azharuddin was accused of match-fixing in 2000.

During the Central Bureau of Investigation's (CBI) probe into the scandal in November 2000, the investigative agency unearthed what it claimed were telephone conversations between mob boss Abu Salem, presently lodged in a prison in Lisbon, Portugal, and Azharuddin.

Transcripts of the conversations revealed that Salem wanted Azharuddin to "under perform" in a one-day international and even lose the match.

"During our inquiry, we found Salem made several calls at the hotel room where Azhar was staying," said a CBI official.

Following the life ban he received from the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) in late 2000, Azhar has been leading a rather quiet life.

Two years ago, he and his wife Sangeeta Bijlani started up a state-of-the-art gym, "Est", in Hyderabad with the promise of opening a chain around the country.

Divya Chawla

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