Azharuddin has been invited by the Telangana Congress to contest state assembly elections in 2019 (File)

The Congress in Telangana has invited former cricketer Mohammed Azharuddin to contest the next state Assembly election, due in 2019."We are inviting him (Azharuddin)," state Congress president N Uttam Kumar Reddy told PTI today.Mr Reddy said he invited Azharuddin after the former cricketer expressed his readiness to play an active role in Telangana."If we work together again, our Congress government will come in Telangana," Mr Azharuddin said at a public event here yesterday.To this, Mr Reddy then said, "I am inviting you, in Telangana, whichever MP or MLA...you want to contest. We will call you to contest."The state Congress would like Mr Azharuddin to contest the polls in Telangana and also campaign for the party, he said.Mr Azharuddin, who hails from Hyderabad, had earlier served as Congress MP from Moradabad in Uttar Pradesh.

He unsuccessfully contested the 2014 Lok Sabha election from Rajasthan.