Special Correspondent
For a cricket ecosystem long accustomed to controversy, the Hyderabad Cricket Association’s U-14 selections at the Secunderabad Gymkhana grounds have unexpectedly offered a refreshing counter-narrative. What initially appeared — through a few viral social media clips — as yet another episode of confusion soon began to reveal a more nuanced and encouraging story as fuller videos emerged. They portrayed not chaos but an earnest attempt to conduct one of the most open age-group selections Hyderabad has seen in recent years.
The first wave of videos, shot before the trials had even begun, gave the impression of disorder and mismanagement. Yet the subsequent footage documented a very different reality: hundreds of youngsters in white patiently waiting their turn, proper facilities being arranged, and even healthy refreshments such as boiled eggs being distributed. These visuals reflected an effort to ensure fairness, especially in the wake of serious allegations raised during the U-19 and U-23 selections — complaints of fudged score sheets, questionable age certificates, and non-transparent pathways to team selection.
Against that troubled backdrop, the HCA’s decision to conduct truly open U-14 trials deserves acknowledgement. Open selections for this age group became common only after earlier administrations abandoned the traditional route of picking players through inter-school tournaments, more than half a decade ago. If some former office-bearers have chosen to express displeasure, often selectively amplifying the early negative videos, it reflects more a reluctance to accept change than an honest assessment of the process.
As someone who has been sharply critical of the HCA’s functioning in recent months — and rightly so — the fuller picture prompted a reassessment. The truncated Apex Council functioning under the supervision of the High Court-appointed Ombudsman, Justice Naveen Rao, has been under pressure to fix years of administrative decay. But the latest visuals suggest that at least some course correction is underway.
HCA CEO Imtiaz Khan, himself a former cricketer who shared dressing rooms with legends like Mohammad Azharuddin, later reiterated that sentiment. Though he initially missed calls, he eventually reached out with an appeal: judge the new efforts fairly and do not allow mischievous content to set the narrative before the trials even begin. “I welcome criticism, but it should not be misleading,” he said, a statement that implicitly acknowledges past mistakes while signalling a willingness to clean up the system. His broader message was equally clear — media and administrators need to work together if Hyderabad cricket is to regain its past stature.
To his credit, Imtiaz did not offer excuses for the poor performances of the U-19 and U-23 teams. Instead, he indicated that a deeper overhaul is already underway and will take time to uproot entrenched interests. As journalists, it is fair to take that assurance at face value, while continuing to monitor the promised reforms with vigilance.
The above video is from Karimnagar
Meanwhile, the response from the ground has been nothing short of enthusiastic. In Karimnagar alone, around 300 youngsters reportedly turned up for the trials — a number that speaks to both the hunger for opportunity and the trust that transparent selections can rebuild. Similar turnout is expected across other districts. For many parents who dream of seeing their children rise to the level of a Tendulkar, a Sehwag or a Kohli, this process offers a rare sense of hope.
Importantly, Justice Naveen Rao is also said to be actively correcting the structural flaws within HCA. According to those close to him, he has even set his sights on restructuring women’s cricket by reintroducing a league system that was abandoned in past administrations. His office appears to be drawing upon inputs from former office-bearers, district sources and technical experts — all aimed at a wide-ranging clean-up of the system.
If Hyderabad cricket is to truly revive, this dual approach matters: an administration willing to acknowledge past gaps, and stakeholders — including parents — ready to raise concerns without fear. At the same time, selectors and the Ombudsman must reciprocate that openness by ensuring that every grievance is heard and every process is documented transparently.
In many ways, the U-14 trials are an early litmus test. The system is undoubtedly still fragile, but if these selection reforms continue with sincerity, they could become the foundation on which Hyderabad cricket’s revival is built. For now, patience and constructive scrutiny may be more valuable than cynicism. After years of decline, the sight of hundreds of eager youngsters receiving a genuinely fair chance is a story worth telling — and supporting.
