MS Shanker
The crisis inside the Hyderabad Cricket Association (HCA) has deepened, with Acting President Sardar Daljit Singh coming under increasing fire for allegedly arbitrary actions taken by a truncated apex council — one that critics say has no mandate under the association’s own rules.
In the latest challenge, Ramakrishna Udupa of Classic Cricket Club (CCC) has fired a stinging letter demanding urgent answers on the council’s recent decisions, warning that failure to respond could trigger legal action. At the heart of the dispute is the exclusion of 57 clubs from the recently adjourned Annual General Meeting (AGM) — clubs that had participated in previous AGMs without objection.
Udupa points out that if the current apex council is invoking a Supreme Court order dated 05.12.2023 to bar these clubs, then the logic cuts both ways. “It logically follows,” he wrote, “that the resolutions passed in the past two AGMs, where these very clubs participated, could be considered null and void.” Those resolutions cover crucial matters — including approval of accounts, key appointments, and policy decisions — already placed before the BCCI and even the courts.
This, Udupa argues, leaves the HCA with an inescapable contradiction: either the past AGMs were irregular, or the present exclusion is unjustified and illegal. “Two wrongs cannot make a right. This inconsistency has inevitably led to confusion and instability within the Association’s governance framework,” he said.
He also raises the question of timing: if the December 2023 Supreme Court order truly applied, why did office-bearers fail to object to these clubs’ participation earlier? The delay, he says, raises “legitimate concern regarding the intent behind this action.” Adding to the murkiness, Udupa notes that the minutes of the 87th AGM have not even been circulated for members’ approval, further undermining transparency.
His letter, which had your e-paper, demands clarity on three points:
- The HCA’s official and legal position on the participation of the 57 clubs in past AGMs.
- The steps to resolve the inconsistency and restore clarity in decision-making.
- A roadmap to restore normalcy and credibility in the association’s operations.
He also challenges the legitimacy of the truncated apex council’s recent appointments of an Ethics Officer and an Ombudsman, calling them legally questionable.
The governance row comes against the backdrop of a broader probe into HCA affairs. The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) is already investigating the IPL ticket scam and other irregularities allegedly committed over the past two years — a period that coincides with the tenure of the current apex council.
Unconfirmed sources say CID sleuths have questioned HCA Joint Secretary Basavaraju over alleged financial deals, including promises of state team berths through certain “rogue secretaries.” These intermediaries are suspected of exploiting their positions for personal gain, undermining the integrity of Hyderabad cricket. Investigators are believed to be preparing for further arrests as they widen the probe into day-to-day club governance and financial irregularities.
As the letter war between member-secretaries and the acting president escalates, the HCA finds itself trapped in a spiral of legal uncertainty, governance paralysis, and public mistrust. Unless urgent corrective action is taken, Hyderabad cricket — already battered by administrative chaos — risks yet another blow to its credibility.
