Azharuddin set to be honoured

Mohammad Azharuddin is included in a list of high-profile players and officials who will be honoured at an Indian cricket board ceremony next month.

Azharuddin, who led India at three World Cups, is serving a life ban from cricket for conspiring with illegal bookmakers to fix cricket matches and player performances.

The function will take place on November 4 in Mumbai, on the eve Champions Trophy's final and one day after ICC stages its annual awards ceremony in the same city, and marks the opening of its new headquarters.

Ratnakar Shetty, the administrative head of the BCCI, confirmed Azharuddin's presence in the list. "[He] is among the Indian captains invited for the cricket board's felicitation function next month."

Azharuddin will join all India's past and present living captains at the function, even though the Indian cricket board has banned him for life from all cricket activities including playing, coaching or assuming an official position.

"It's going to be a grand function, we've invited the chief executives of all national cricket boards," Shetty added.

Besides Azharuddin, the board has also invited the former chief Jagmohan Dalmiya, who is under suspension on allegations of misappropriating funds and is not permitted to attend its meetings.