Disgraced former Indian cricket captain Mohammad Azharuddin has challenged the appointment of K Madhavan to probe the match-fixing scandal, saying it was 'contrary to rules and regulations', and also claimed that his inquiry report had failed to throw any light on the alleged irregularities by cricketers.

Arguing the case before the second additional chief judge in Hyderabad, Azharuddin's counsel P Jagdish said the Board of Control for Cricket in India's bye-laws failed to provide for the appointment of an outside agency.

Even though rules were amended after the allegations of match-fixing surfaced, P Jagdish claimed Madhavan was appointed before the bye-laws were amended.

"Madhavan, who knew that his appointment was illegal, discharged his functions with a sense of gratitude towards the
BCCI chief," he said.

The counsel urged that the report prepared by Madhavan be seen as a report submitted as a token of gratitude.