Delayed Leagues, Divided House, and the Rs 45 Crore Question
MS Shanker
In my continued mission to clean up the HCA and save the game, I wish to momentarily shift focus from my regular investigations to a pressing issue at hand — the ongoing delay in the local league and the upcoming AGM. It’s deeply disturbing that yet another league season in Hyderabad faces an indefinite postponement. As this happens, the rot within the Hyderabad Cricket Association (HCA) grows deeper, more visible, and more brazen. This isn’t a one-off slip or a mere scheduling mishap — it reflects an administrative collapse, fuelled by greed, groupism, and a blatant disregard for the very game the HCA is meant to uphold.
The 2025–26 Hyderabad league season, scheduled to begin on June 3, now stands postponed—again. The official reason? The Annual General Meeting (AGM) has been pushed back. The real reason? Infighting within a thoroughly compromised managing committee that’s more interested in power struggles and profit-sharing than nurturing cricketing talent.
The committee is fractured beyond recognition. Even during the turbulent tenure of its former president, politician-industrialist T. Vivek, there was at least a semblance of order. Today, the conflict is open and brutal. On one side are officials elected through dubious means—allegedly involving bribes to corrupt and self-serving club secretaries. On the other side are a few lone voices still trying to uphold the spirit of the game. But they are being drowned out.
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At the heart of this tug-of-war is money—plenty of it. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) disburses nearly ₹45 crore annually to each state association, meant explicitly for the development of the sport and cricketing infrastructure. In addition, when Hyderabad hosts IPL matches—typically six to seven a season—it brings in an additional ₹1.5 crore per match (₹1 crore from the franchisee, Sunrisers Hyderabad, and ₹50 lakh from the BCCI). That’s another ₹6–7 crore annually.
So, where is all this money going?
In theory, it is supposed to flow to the 217 registered clubs under the HCA’s umbrella. Each is allocated ₹3 lakh annually as a ‘development grant’ to support budding cricketers by providing kits, covering match-day expenses, and maintaining infrastructure. But in reality, a majority of club secretaries allegedly treat this grant as personal income. Worse, many of them charge aspiring cricketers hefty sums just to be included in the playing XI, effectively turning cricket into a pay-to-play racket.
This rent-seeking culture has locked out talented youngsters from economically weaker backgrounds, especially those without political godfathers or the means to bribe their way into teams. It is only a handful of institutions, like the Sports Coaching Foundation led by former Ranji cricketer K. Saibaba, that continue to offer real opportunities, providing training, equipment, and a pathway to the game for underprivileged youth. The rest? Some are little more than cricketing versions of ‘corporate colleges,’ selling dreams and preying on desperate parents who want their sons to become the next Kohli or Tendulkar.
And now, there’s another looming storm that could paralyze the HCA further: the “retrospective development fund” crisis.
During the pandemic years, HCA’s grants to clubs were suspended. Former Ombudsman Justice Eashwaraiah Goud, in his parting recommendation, suggested that these unpaid dues be reimbursed, with backdated effect. That means ₹3 lakh per year per club over the past seven years—a potential outlay of ₹21 lakh per club. Multiplied across 217 clubs, we’re staring at a total liability of over ₹45 crore, nearly equal to the BCCI’s annual grant.
Can HCA afford this? Clearly not. But the upcoming AGM on June 29 is shaping up to be a political battlefield, with club secretaries expected to push aggressively for full payment. Many of them will be backed by the same corrupt elements within the executive committee who helped them gain power. After all, who says no to a ₹21 lakh windfall?
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But this raises serious legal, ethical, and administrative questions. Is there even a binding obligation to pay such a sum retrospectively? Is the association obligated to honour the former Ombudsman’s suggestion, especially one made by an Ethics Officer-turned-Ombudsman whose own appointment skirted formal procedures?
With tensions rising and emotions running high, there is every chance that the June 29 AGM may descend into chaos—or worse. The law enforcement agencies and the vigilance department must be on alert. The signs are ominous, and past AGMs have seen verbal clashes and near-physical confrontations.
Cricket in Hyderabad today stands at a precipice. The game is being held hostage by those who were elected to serve it. Talented players are being sacrificed at the altar of greed and mismanagement. The AGM should ideally be a moment of introspection and reform. But if recent history is any indicator, it may well become a blood sport of a different kind.
Unless the state government, the BCCI, and law enforcement authorities step in with firm resolve, Hyderabad cricket may lose not just another league season, but its very future.
