Mohammad Azharuddin will need all the patience he showed at the crease during his Test career as he fights a life ban.

The former Indian captain's legal bid to clear his name is still in its infancy.

Although preliminary hearings have taken place at a civil court in Hyderabad, final judgment is still a long way off with no resumption scheduled until June.

Azharuddin was found guilty of match-fixing by the Board of Control for Cricket in India last November following an inquiry by its anti-corruption investigator, K Madhavan, and duly banned for life.

It is Madhavan's role, however, which was the chief focus of this week's hearing.

Azharuddin's lawyers may not be too pleased at the way their first petition proceeded, but the main suit is pending..

Madhavan's report has already been made public, but the court wanted a copy authenticated by the BCCI to be submitted, in line with usual practice.

Any discussions on the procedures followed in the conduct of the inquiry - and the evidence given to Madhavan - can only begin after the court has the report in its possession, duly authenticated by the BCCI.

Azharuddin's legal team are also seeking other documents, which the court has not yet asked to be produced, pertaining to Madhavan's appointment.

The main focus of Azharuddin's petition is to challenge the validity of the BCCI's decision to appoint an inquiry commissioner.

He contends that the BCCI's own rules do not include any provision for making such an appointment.

Azharuddin's lawayers contend that the investigation ought to have been conducted by the BCCI's own disciplinary committee - previously the normal practice.

The main thrust of their case is to try and have Madhavan's appointment annulled.

If that happens, the inquiry conducted by Madhavan on behalf of the Board and any punishments imposed as a result of his recommendations will automatically become void.

It is in this context that Azharuddin's legal team has been seeking that Madhavan's appointment letter be produced in court, along with the minutes of the Board's meeting at which the appointment was approved.

It is a point of law which will be argued by both sides, and the Board's action will remain in the news for a long, long time.

Ajay Sharma was also banned for life as a result of the inquiry, and Ajay Jadeja and Manoj Prabhakar received five-year bans.

They will no doubt be interested observers as the case progresses.