MS Shanker
The Hyderabad Cricket Association (HCA) has become less about cricket and more about courtrooms, with the Telangana High Court forced yet again to play umpire in the Association’s never-ending dramas. On Monday, the proceedings opened with a sharp rebuke to one of HCA’s own office-bearers, setting the tone for a day that underlined how deeply fractured the body has become.
In a move that can only be described as overzealous, Joint Secretary Basavaraju had challenged the Court’s decision to appoint Hon’ble Justice P. Naveen Rao (Retd.) as a member of the Supervisory Committee. The Court was quick to put him in his place, asking bluntly through his counsel, “Who is the Joint Secretary to question the Court’s decision?” His petition was promptly dismissed. To add to the embarrassment, it had been filed allegedly through a corporate entity already mired in controversies involving HCA itself—particularly disputes over lease and investment deals tied to the Rajiv Gandhi International Cricket Stadium at Uppal. It was, in every sense, a knock on the knuckles.
Beyond Basavaraju’s failed gambit, the day’s hearings on Tuesday also reflected the larger malaise: delays and evasions. Many club secretaries had come expecting clarity on the fate of the truncated Apex Council—left without a President, Secretary, or Treasurer after their arrests and suspensions. Instead, HCA’s counsel once again sought adjournments and failed to make timely submissions.
The judges, visibly unimpressed, warned against further attempts at stalling. They reminded all parties that the matters before them are of “considerable public importance” and go to the heart of HCA’s governance and accountability.
At the centre of the legal wrangling lies a fundamental question: is the HCA a “State” under Article 12 of the Constitution, and therefore bound to act transparently? The petitioners argued that HCA cannot keep changing its stance to suit convenience.
In the Venkatesh Prasad case, HCA officials had once claimed—and secured a ruling—that the Association was indeed a “State.” Yet, the same officials later filed a writ appeal arguing precisely the opposite. The contradictory positions wasted judicial time and forced the Association into an embarrassing withdrawal after censure. The High Court has now signalled that such flip-flops cannot be tolerated.
The Court also heard allegations of corruption and mismanagement:
- Apex Council members are allegedly blocking appointments of coaches and support staff to push their own nominees.
- Council meetings are being held without a quorum, rendering decisions invalid.
- Failure to publish meeting minutes on the HCA website erodes transparency.
- Association funds reportedly diverted towards litigation costs, including fees for the very counsel now appearing against HCA—a clear conflict-of-interest concern.
Adding weight to the charges, petitioners highlighted that Hyderabad’s men’s team, chosen by the Supervisory Committee’s Selection Committee, had gone on to win the prestigious Buchi Babu tournament—proof, they said, of how effective governance outside the Apex Council can be.
The connected writ petitions—Jai Hanuman Cricket Club v. HCA, Safilguda Cricket Club v. HCA, and Classic Cricket Club v. HCA—were argued by senior counsels P. Raja Sripathi Rao and A. Venkatesh. They accused the Apex Council of:
- Open defiance of the Supervisory Committee headed by Justice Naveen Rao (Retd.).
- Arbitrary suspension of 57 clubs, which restricts voting rights but does not eliminate participation.
- Gross mismanagement akin to the Jammu & Kashmir Cricket Association case, where irregularities triggered a CBI probe and eventual BCCI takeover.
After hearing the submissions, the High Court observed that the HCA’s conduct in bypassing judicially appointed supervisory mechanisms “cannot be countenanced.” Prima facie, the Court said, there is substance in the allegations of arbitrary functioning, lack of quorum, and financial impropriety.
The judges directed the Supervisory Committee to file a detailed report on the charges before the next hearing.
The matters now stand adjourned for final consideration on September 25, 2025. On that date, the Court is expected to take a call on two critical issues:
- Whether the allegations against HCA merit a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe, as earlier recommended by Justice Anil Dave (Retd.).
- Whether the current Apex Council retains any legitimacy in light of quorum deficiencies and alleged violations.
For years, Hyderabad cricket has been shackled by infighting, corruption charges, and court battles. Tuesday’s proceedings made one thing clear: the judiciary is running out of patience. With its top brass suspended, credibility in tatters, and even its own Joint Secretary admonished in open court, the HCA stands at a crossroads.
The question is no longer whether cricket will suffer—it already has—but whether the institution meant to nurture the game can even survive without a complete overhaul.
