Clubs, Cronies and Corruption: Anatomy of HCA’s Collapse
By MS Shanker
As promised, this week’s episode focuses on the root causes behind the tragic, systematic, and largely self-inflicted decline of Hyderabad cricket. At the heart of this rot lie two unholy forces: a cartel of affiliated clubs and a coterie of self-serving former cricketers who, under the guise of mentorship, have turned the Hyderabad Cricket Association (HCA) into their fiefdom.
The numbers expose the farce. The HCA boasts nearly 230 affiliated clubs — but how many exist to promote cricket or nurture talent? Barely a handful. Instead, what we see is a chokehold by a dozen-odd individuals — former players, businessmen, and political fixers — who use these clubs to rig elections, influence selections, and siphon off association funds.
Central to this manipulation is the so-called Elite Group of 19 clubs, split into Group A and B, which forms the core pool for Ranji Trophy selections. Group A clubs — like SBI, Army Ordnance Corps, Central Excise, Cambridge XI, Deccan Chronicle, and others — play three-day games, while Group B clubs — including South Central Railway, Gemini Friends, Jai Hanuman, and Union Bank — play two-day matches. But, this year, even Group play only two-day matches as per the state High Court appointed Supervisory Committee of Naveen Rao.
The catch? Only 4 to 5 clubs consistently produce Ranji-level talent. Most matches are either not completed on time or are allegedly rigged, marred by biased umpiring and score manipulation. Sources claim scorers and match officials are routinely bribed, performances fabricated, and selections pre-decided. In short, merit is murdered in broad daylight.
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Many of these clubs are controlled by former cricketers or their close associates. Club secretaries curry favour with bureaucrats and businessmen, fast-tracking their children or recommended players into state teams. Meanwhile, genuine talent is either ignored or pushed out. If this isn’t nepotism and fraud, what is?
From Institutions to Irrelevance
This rot stands in stark contrast to Hyderabad’s proud past. Once upon a time, institutional teams — SBI, SBH, Syndicate Bank, Andhra Bank, Central Excise, and others — not only provided employment but produced legends like Abid Ali, M. L. Jaisimha, Jayantilal, Azharuddin, Shivlal Yadav, Venkatapathy Raju, and VVS Laxman. Today, most of these institutions have shut shop or stopped hiring, yet they retain voting rights, not for cricketing merit, but for political muscle.
Let’s name names — the architects of this mess are no secret. Former internationals like Shivlal Yadav, Arshad Ayub, Mohd Azharuddin, and the late MV Sridhar, along with ex-Ranji players like Vanka Pratap, senior-level cricketers such as John Manoj and Moiz, and others like Vijayanand (son of former HCA office-bearer Dayanand) and remnants of the former Secretary P.R. Mansingh’s coterie, have all played key roles in nurturing a powerful club lobby. This nexus continues to dominate HCA elections, team selections, and even policy-making with impunity.
They’re aided by two businessmen who control 15–25 clubs covering converting what should be sporting bodies into vote banks and business units. Each club receives around ₹3–5 lakh annually in development grants, besides sub-lease money. With multiple affiliations often held through proxies, this is a textbook case of conflict of interest and financial fraud.
Legal Violations, No Accountability
Under the Telangana Cooperative Societies Act and relevant guidelines, no individual or family is permitted to control more than one affiliated club. If such violations are proven, they constitute a cognizable offence, warranting immediate investigation by the Vigilance Department, the CID, or the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB).
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Additionally, the Registrar of Societies—tasked with overseeing club registrations—holds the authority to de-register any club that fails to submit AGM minutes, audited financial statements, or evidence of sporting activity. Ironically, the Hyderabad Cricket Association (HCA) does not mandate these requirements, as most clubs secure independent registration as a protective buffer. It is imperative that the state government, through its sports and registration departments, intervenes to audit these clubs and revoke the affiliations of shell or non-compliant entities.
At the national level, the BCCI must act. It should withhold grants to HCA until it conducts a full clean-up and implements electoral reforms in line with the Lodha Committee recommendations.
Thus far, Hyderabad cricket stands at a critical juncture. It can either cleanse itself of corrupt clubs, biased selectors, and power-drunk administrators — or continue its descent into irrelevance. The onus now lies on the state government, BCCI, judiciary, and the handful of honest stakeholders left in HCA to act.
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The state police’s CID may have begun its cleanup by probing the IPL ticketing scam, following a complaint by franchisee Sunrisers Hyderabad. That’s a good beginning. But the investigation must expand to include the issues raised here — nepotism, club fraud, and systemic corruption.
Hyderabad once produced cricketing legends. Today, it churns out scandals. The time to reclaim its glory is now — or never.
