Hyderabad Cricket’s Closed Door: When Selection Becomes a Statement of Stagnation

Our Correspondent

Hyderabad cricket seems trapped in a cycle it refuses to break. Cries of nepotism, allegations of corruption, and persistent questions over conflicts of interest have become background noise for an administration that appears increasingly insulated from accountability. The latest selection of the Hyderabad men’s U-23 squad for the CK Nayudu Tournament against Assam is not just a routine announcement—it is a telling reflection of a system unwilling to learn, reform, or even listen.

Despite a disappointing and, at times, embarrassing U-23 campaign, the same core of players has been retained. This decision comes even as parents and stakeholders continue to raise serious concerns about alleged bribes, favouritism linked to private academy promoters, and a lack of transparency in the selection process. The fact that neither the HCA administration nor law enforcement agencies have meaningfully pursued these complaints only deepens the sense of institutional apathy.

More troubling is the silence of the High Court-appointed Supervisory Committee headed by former judge Justice Naveen Rao. Its very existence was meant to restore credibility and enforce standards. Yet, when the most basic demand—fair and merit-based selection—goes unanswered, the committee’s oversight begins to look symbolic rather than substantive.

The team list itself raises more questions than confidence. Take the inclusion of Aman Rao, a player with Ranji and IPL exposure. In a season where qualification hopes are already extinguished, what purpose does it serve to field a player who has nothing to prove at this level? Beyond the risk of injury ahead of higher-profile commitments, it shuts the door on young aspirants who desperately need exposure in competitive matches.

Similarly, Rahul Radesh, who has played the entire Ranji season, finds himself in the U-23 squad at a stage when Hyderabad’s campaign offers little in terms of progression. If development is the goal, shouldn’t this have been an ideal opportunity to blood fresh talent rather than recycle established names?

Then there is the baffling case of Mayank Gupta, reportedly dropped amid a season that has already seen the team cycle through three or four captains. Leadership instability is rarely a recipe for performance, and constant chopping and changing only adds to the impression of ad-hoc decision-making.

The inclusion of players like Harshit Choudhary and Mohammed Abdul Malik, despite alleged conflicts of interest and questionable on-field returns, further fuels suspicion. Choudhary, in particular, has been a constant presence across squads without corresponding performances that justify such unwavering faith.

The most telling example, however, is the handling of Kushal Agarwal. The selectors and administrators appear unable to decide how to deal with a player whose father is a Councillor in the HCA and now part of the Governing Council of the Telangana T20 League. Some selectors insist on his inclusion, while others oppose it, arguing that performances in the B Division are insufficient to merit selection at this level. At times, he is dropped, citing a conflict of interest, only to be reinstated in the very next match. The result is a farcical pattern—added and removed from squads on an alternate-match basis, reflecting not assessment, but indecision and internal contradiction.

Selectors appear caught in a contradiction: on one hand, attempting to project fairness by including Ranji players; on the other, dismissing the importance of recent “probables” matches, which are meant to serve as the most immediate and relevant performance yardstick. In doing so, they have squandered what should have been an ideal testing ground for emerging players eager to break into the system.

The result is predictable. Hyderabad continues to hover near the bottom of domestic standings, repeating the same practices and expecting different outcomes. Talent, when denied opportunity, either withers or walks away. Administrations that close ranks instead of opening doors risk presiding over decline rather than development.

What message does this send to players striving for fairness, to parents investing time and resources, and to onlookers who still believe in the integrity of the system? Every conceivable violation has occurred, yet there is no visible course correction, no accountability, and no acknowledgement that something is fundamentally broken.

Cricketing success is built not just on facilities or funding, but on trust—trust that performance matters more than proximity to power. Until Hyderabad’s selectors and administrators confront this basic truth, the scoreboard will continue to reflect what the selection room refuses to acknowledge: stagnation, not progress, has become the team’s most consistent performer.