Mohammad Azharuddin has said he has given up hopes of playing for India but was fighting his case in the court of law to get his name cleared from match-fixing.

"I have no hopes of playing for India. But I want to get my name cleared. I am expecting that the final hearing of my case will be in May before the judgment is announced," Azharuddin said.

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Azhar was slapped with a life ban while Manoj Prabhakar, also involved in the scandal, was banned for five years in 2000. The court has already exonerated Ajay Jadeja who was earlier banned for life by the Board of Control for Cricket in India.

The former India captain, however, refused to comment on whether he was made a scapegoat by the BCCI.

"The matter is sub-judice and I cannot comment on that but I firmly believe that the whole issue was blown out of proportion," Azhar, who is in Karachi to play the veterans' cup said.

"I was destined to play 99 Tests, that's the way I look at it. If I can play 99 Tests, I could have played one more," he said when asked if he was deliberately prevented by the BCCI from achieving a personal milestone.

However, Azharuddin, a veteran of 99 Tests and 334 one-day internationals, said he cannot be banned from cricketing activities.

"I don't need any permission from anyone to play charity or veteran's cricket. I cannot play in BCCI or ICC [Images] approved or sanctioned tournaments. Veterans' cricket is a different body that is neither controlled nor governed by the BCCI or ICC," Azharuddin said.

"No constitution in the world can stop me from my earning my livelihood and cricket is my livelihood."

Azhar said coaching option remained open for him but at the moment he was concentrating on his business.

"I can remain associated with cricket in whichever capacity I want because the embargo is on playing cricket and not on coaching or doing commentary. I have worked for a television channel in the past and if I get a good offer, I would do it again," Azharuddin said with reference to ICC's decision of not giving him accredition as commentator during the 2003 ICC Champions Trophy held in Sri Lanka [Images].

Azhar said he was happy to be back in Pakistan. "My last visit to Pakistan was in 1997 and it's a nice opportunity to visit friends, relatives and play cricket with those I have played before."

Azhar admitted that too much cricket was being played now as compared to when he was wearing the India cap.

"The demands of cricket have increased. It is taxing for the cricketers but cricket hasn't changed much I think.