New Delhi, Apr 4 : Former cricket skipper and Congress candidate for the Moradabad parliamentary constituency, Mohammad Azharuddin, has termed Bharatiya Janata Party leader Varun Gandhi's anti-Muslim speech disturbing, saying it would send out a wrong message to youth.

"It is quite disturbing for a person of his calibre, who has come from an affluent family, to say something like that. He has sent a very wrong message to youth," Azharuddin told reporters here.

New Delhi: Former Indian skipper Mohammed Azharuddin is all set to add another feather to its cap.

For the upcoming Lok Sabha Elections, the Congress party has decided to field Azharuddin for the Moradabad seat in Uttar Pradesh (UP). Currently, the seat is being occupied by Shafiqur Rahman Barq of the Samajwadi Party.

With this, the Congress party has named its candidates for 53 of the 80 seats in UP.

Lucknow, March 27 : Former cricketer Mohammad Azharuddin has been named as Congress' candidate from Uttar Pradesh's Moradabad constituency for 15th Lok Sabha elections.

Azaruddin's name was announced among the fourteen names declared on Friday by the Congress party.

Sanjay Singh, who belongs to the royal family of Amethi, is the Congress candidate from his pocket borough Sultanpur.

New Delhi, Mar. 4 : Expressing dismay and shock over Tuesday's terrorist attack on the Sri Lankan cricket team in Lahore, former Indian cricket captain-turned Congress politician Mohammad Azharuddin said on Wednesday that chances of Pakistan co-hosting the World Cup in 2011 have receded to a great extent

"It's a very big loss, especially for Pakistan cricket, I don't think any team would want to go there and play now," said Azharuddin in an exclusive interview to ANI.

Hyderabad, Mar 1: Former Indian cricket captain Mohammad Azharuddin received a rousing welcome in Hyderabad on Saturday, as he landed there after formally joining the Congress party.

Expressing his concern over the problems faced by the people, he said that he wants to work for the upliftment of the poor and downtrodden.

"I have lot of feeling for people... So, I think if I can bring a change or if I can be of any help. If I can bring at least 5-10 percent of change, I''ll be very happy," he said.

New Delhi, Feb 19 : Former Indian cricket captain Mohammad Azharuddin formally joined the Congress party on Thursday.

Congress leader Veerappa Moily confirmed the cricketer's membership, saying, "Azharuddin had approached me a few days ago with a desire to join the party. The decision to offer him a membership was taken after holding a discussion with party president Sonia Gandhi."

Moily, however, did not confirm whether he would contest the upcoming Lok Sabha elections.

The leader told that the cricketer's controversial past was not a problem for the party.