Calcutta: Former India captain Mohammed Azharuddin was told to restrict his movement near the dressing rooms at the Eden as part of the International Cricket Council’s access control measures put in place by its Anti Corruption Unit. This was during the opening day of the second Test when the former captains were being honoured by the CAB.

It has been reported in a Pakistan newspaper that ICC regional security officer N. S. Virk told Azhar and former Pakistan captain Asif Iqbal that they couldn’t move near the dressing rooms or talk to the players and were required to remain in their areas.

Azhar is serving a life ban on charges of match-fixing while Asif’s name has also been linked to bookmakers.

“Azhar was talking to an Indian player near the players’ viewing area… I told him he couldn’t be there as per the rules. The restriction applies to any individual… It has nothing to do with Azhar serving the life ban,” clarified Virk on Sunday.

Asif, however, denied he was stopped.

“This is news to me… For the first time I’m hearing this… Nobody even touched me or stopped me anywhere during my three days’ of stay here. In fact, on Day I of the match I went downstairs and sat with Pakistan manager (Talat Ali) for some time. But nothing of that sort happened. Today (Sunday), though, I did not even go downstairs or near the dressing rooms…”