Through thick and thin

Mustafa Alam Khan and Md. Azharuddin have been friends since 1978. “We have known each other since our school days. We started playing cricket when we were in Alia Junior College. After that we went to Nizam College, he was a year junior to me,” recalls Mustafa. Azhar adds, “And then he went for his medical studies to Karnataka and I stepped into the Indian cricket team.”

“His (Azhar’s) early years were filled with praise and encouragement,” says Mustafa, remembering the three centuries Azhar made in his first three Tests, creating a world record.  

What is four decades between childhood friends anyway? “Despite the fact the he is a celebrity, I have always considered him as an ‘ordinary friend’. It’s not that I only know him because he is a great cricketer. Our families have known each other for a very long time. The foundation of our friendship is intact and time has not been able to efface our bond,” says Mustafa, reliving their memories.

Unbreakable bond
After Azhar left Hyderabad, he spent most of his time in New Delhi and Mumbai. “But whenever he would come to Hyderabad, he would make it a point to meet me and my family,” says Mustafa.

A happy and uneventful friendship is beautiful, and unlike other relationships, their bond has never been shaken. “When I was going through the bad phase (match fixing allegations), many people deserted me,” says Azhar.

And Mustafa adds, “I knew from the bottom of my heart that he was innocent. No matter what people said, I knew that he was a humble and decent guy. Even though he got acquitted by the court, I stood behind him like a rock.”

Walking us down memory lane, Mustafa recalls that time when Azhar was awarded the Padma Shri in 1988. “Instead of taking his family to the ceremony, he took me to New Delhi. Even though I insisted that he take his wife or parents — as two guests are allowed — he just said, ‘I want you to accompany me. That’s it’. That was very touching.”

Azhar says, “It was very satisfying for me to have him there at the most precious moment of my life.” Azhar is known for his great dressing sense. But according to him, it’s Mustafa who taught him the skill.

“Mustafa and I are very fond of clothes. When I was in England playing County Cricket, he used to take me out shopping. I have learnt a little bit of dressing from him. I still admire the way he dresses, Mashallah. But more than him I admire his dad, Nawab Shah Alam Khan. He is still the best-dressed man. Even though he comes from a very rich family, he has no airs.”

Mustafa adds, “For me he has not changed a bit. He is the same old Azhar. Recently he was in the city for the premier of the movie Azhar. We were together, making jokes in the typical Hyderabadi lingo.”