Special Correspondent
In Hyderabad cricket, the disconnect between what the Hyderabad Cricket Association (HCA) proclaims and what it practices keeps widening. And when institutions fail to listen, someone must. That is why our platform continues to provide space to every aggrieved voice—not out of bias or hostility, but out of a commitment to fair, honest, and responsible journalism.
When the HCA performs well, we have never hesitated to acknowledge or applaud it. But when parents, players, clubs, or coaches bring documented grievances—facts, not emotions—it becomes our duty to present them with the seriousness they deserve. Ignoring them would make us complicit in silence.
The latest example is a club secretary who has been battling the HCA’s discrepancies for years. His concern is not personal; it is systemic. His repeated letters to the High Court–appointed Single-member committee, a player of his team, H K Simh, was given a chance in the 4th match, though he was the top performer of Syed Mushtaq, probable matches conducted by HCA.
The Case of H.K. Simha: A Textbook Example of Bias
At the heart of his latest petition lies the controversial treatment of one of Hyderabad’s most consistent performers—H.K. Simha.
Despite being selected in the 15-man squad for the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy (SMAT)
Simha was abruptly dropped from the second leg of Syed Mushtaq Ali elite probable matches starting from 12th December, 2025 at Pune and directed to fly back to Hyderabad. No reasons. No explanation. No transparency.
The secretary’s pointed question to the senior selection committee strikes at the core of the issue:
“If Simha is inferior to the players retained, how did he outperform them in SMA probable matches, to be the top performer.
The argument is supported with hard data:
- Simha is the top performer of the matches conducted by HCA for SMA probables, while facing the same players who have now been retained ahead of him.
- Non-performers retained: Several players who failed even on flat wickets were still given equal or more opportunities than Simha in the current SMAT.
- A revolving door for favourites:
Players like K. Nitesh and Mickel Jaiswal keep finding favour season after season, despite inconsistent performances and multiple exits and reentries into the side.
- Deliberate demoralisation:
Any other state team would have fielded a player like Simha in the very first match. Instead, the selectors benched him for three games straight, only to slot him into the 4th and 5th matches—both on bowler-friendly tracks where teams struggled to reach 120.
By then, his morale had already been shattered.
- Televised evidence:
In the SMAT match against J&K—played on a treacherous wicket and broadcast live—Simha batted with assurance until he fell to an unplayable delivery.
In another game, he was made to bat at No. 3 but failed to perform.
The system never asks whether the pitch or the circumstances are to blame.
What Responsibility Do Selectors Owe?
The secretary asks the single-member committee
If consistent performers struggle due to poor wickets, confidence issues, or psychological pressure, does the responsibility of selectors, coaches, support staff, and administrators not extend to mentoring them, protecting them, and allowing them to succeed?
Instead, Simha’s experience suggests the opposite—a structure that breaks players, not builds them.
A Career Built on Runs, Trust, and Leadership
Simha’s record stands tall:
- Represented HCA in U-16, U-19, U-23/U-25 BCCI tournaments.
- Scored hundreds at every level, including a double hundred, and carried his bat twice in U-23/U-25 tournaments.
- Served as captain of the Hyderabad U-23/U-25 side, with Hima Teja as vice-captain.
- One of only two players—alongside Paras Raj—to score a double century in the 2024–25 HCA league for Balaaji CC.
In the ongoing 2025–26 season:
- 150 vs Evergreen CC
- 135 vs Sporting XI
- 114 vs Deccan Chronicle
- 47 vs EMCC
And his single-most incredible performance:
A hundred plus five wickets against Zinda Tilismath, almost single-handedly earning Balaaji CC promotion to A Division.
Yet this player has never been given even one opportunity in the Ranji Trophy or Vijay Hazare Trophy.
Where Does Accountability Begin?
The secretary’s conclusion is blunt but justified:
The senior selection committee is actively damaging the careers of Hyderabad’s most deserving players.
This is not an isolated incident. For every Simha who has someone to articulate his struggle, countless players slip through the cracks unseen and unheard.
This is exactly why our platform provides space to the aggrieved—because Hyderabad cricket cannot afford a culture where talent is punished, transparency is optional, and silence becomes the norm.
We applaud when the HCA delivers.
We question when it fails. (As told to this correspondent)
