‘I’m ready for politics’

Mohd Azharuddin is on a new pitch, and it shows.
The latest to join the fray of celebs-turned-politicians, India���s ex-cricket captain was in Delhi this week to get his Congress membership. And he already had a taste of the daily schedule of the politician ��� meetings, more meetings, congratulatory phone calls from well-wishers, and a few moments he stole in between to call his friends.While all this talk formed a major part of his day, he says he���s always been shy about speaking in public.
���I���m not much for interviews ��� you���ll have rarely seen me talk much in public, right?��� he asks. Then how does he plan to give speeches, which is a prerequisite for any politician? Smiling, he says, ���I don���t believe in rehearsing speeches. I believe in speaking straight from the heart ��� and mind. I don���t go anywhere with the idea that I have to say this or that. When I give speeches, I���m very blank. Instead, I say whatever comes to my mind. I know what I have to say, but you can���t get stuck and prepare so much that you forget everything.���
But stage fright apart, Azhar isn���t afraid of being scrutinised in his new profession. ���I���ve thought of everything; that���s why I���ve finally joined politics. I don���t take such steps blindly. I know what the intricacies are and what I���ll have to face. I���m ready,��� he says firmly.
So he���s not afraid of past controversies bring dredged up again by political opponents? ���Look, the basic thing is that if your intentions are good, and if all the parties��� intention is to do good for India, I don���t see any reason for fights. Sometimes things don���t happen the way you plan; if you want someone to be a role model, stop attacking his negative side,��� he says.
It���s clear that Azhar has moved on from controversies, and he says he learnt his lessons from that phase. ���I learnt to have infinite patience, because Allah is always with those who���re patient ��� that���s the most important thing to remember when you���re going through a tough phase,��� he says. Any former friends who he thinks might be eager to befriend him again now? ���I don���t believe in the good friend-bad friend concept. I���m above all this. Whether my friends are there or not, it really doesn���t matter to me. If I have to fight, I fight things out on my own and if I win, the credit is only mine,��� says Azhar.
Does his entry into politics mean that cricket is off his radar? ���Whatever I am today is because of cricket. I never set out to play cricket or become a star sportsperson, but it happened,��� he says, adding, ���The prime reason for my joining politics is that I want to give back to the people. I know I have the ability to get things going.���
For all that, he���s not sure if he���s going to contest the elections. ���That���s for the party to decide. If they feel I���m good enough to contest, I will.���
And is the Indian cricket team also good enough? ���We have good young players. It���s not long before we become world number one. We have a good side in all forms of the game. Dhoni���s attitude as skipper is exactly what we need from the captain,��� he says. His son is also doing well in the domestic cricket circuit... ���He���s trying his best. We���ll have to wait and see,��� says Azhar.
vishwas.gautam@timesgroup.com