Special Correspondent
The Hyderabad Cricket Association (HCA) has once again become a theatre of intrigue and manipulation. This time, the target of its entrenched power brokers appears to be Justice Naveen Rao (Retd), the High Court–appointed administrator tasked with overseeing the association’s functioning.
According to sources familiar with the developments, certain vested interests within the HCA—uncomfortable with the scrutiny and transparency being insisted upon by the retired judge—have allegedly unleashed a smear campaign against him. The apparent objective, say insiders, is to frustrate the High Court appointee into stepping down, thereby restoring unchecked control to the old guard.
This tactic is reminiscent of what transpired during the tenure of Justice L. Nageswara Rao (Retd), who had been appointed by the Supreme Court with full powers to oversee HCA reforms. Despite his authority, Justice Nageswara Rao reportedly faced sustained pressure, including over issues as trivial yet politically loaded as the distribution of IPL match passes. He eventually withdrew from the assignment, paving the way for one Mr. Sampath to conduct the subsequent elections.
Those familiar with the HCA’s internal affairs allege that one police officer who had assisted Justice Nageswara Rao also took advantage of the situation to push through certain expenditure decisions, including replacements of chairs in the stadium galleries and renovation of the main hall at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium. While no formal findings have emerged, these claims continue to circulate within HCA circles.
Many in the cricketing fraternity continue to express disappointment that Justice Nageswara Rao’s tenure, despite its promise, did not result in a complete overhaul of the HCA’s deeply compromised structure. Only about 57 clubs were reportedly barred from participation, leaving several others—allegedly controlled by influential former officials and ex-cricketers—untouched.
In contrast, Justice Naveen Rao’s current role is notably constrained. Unlike his predecessor, he has not been vested with absolute powers. The truncated Apex Council continues to function, even though the legal validity of its decisions remains in question. As a result, Justice Rao often finds himself limited to an observer’s role, rather than an empowered reformer.
It is in this context that a recent spate of social media posts targeting Justice Rao must be viewed. A few online commentators, including one reportedly based in the United States, have sought to blame him for the performance of junior state teams, even claiming that he personally appointed the selectors. Former players, however, point out that such criticism is misplaced and part of a coordinated attempt to malign him.
Many argue that Justice Rao, new to cricket administration, may have relied on existing channels or advice from within the HCA while naming junior selectors. Some believe he could have instead consulted senior selectors who had successfully overseen the men’s team that recently won the prestigious Buchi Babu Trophy, resisting external pressure in the process.
Meanwhile, there are concerns about the silence of law enforcement agencies regarding the ongoing controversies. Although the Chief Minister had earlier ordered a Vigilance Department probe into the alleged IPL ticket scam—prompted by a complaint from Sunrisers Hyderabad—the subsequent CID investigation and arrests of certain HCA office-bearers seem to have done little to deter further irregularities.
Amid all this, the attacks on Justice Naveen Rao appear to be the latest in a pattern of intimidation and distraction that has long plagued the HCA. Several parents of women cricketers and former players have written to the media, expressing alarm over alleged irregularities in selections and administration.
As a responsible media outlet, we have forwarded relevant complaints and supporting material to the Chief Minister’s Office, the State Home Department, the BCCI, and the Union Home Ministry for appropriate action.
The HCA, once a cradle of cricketing excellence, now stands at a crossroads. Whether Justice Naveen Rao will be allowed to continue his reform efforts—or be driven out like his predecessor—may determine whether Hyderabad cricket ever truly recovers from the rot that has consumed it.
