By Special Correspondents
As the Hyderabad Cricket Association (HCA) prepares to conduct polling for the lone remaining post of Treasurer on March 15, a crucial and uncomfortable question resurfaces: will the HCA finally complete the unfinished task entrusted to it by the Hon’ble Supreme Court, based on the recommendations of the Single-Member Committee?
At the heart of the controversy lies the persistent issue of “conflict of interest” among affiliated clubs — a problem that has plagued HCA governance for years and repeatedly cast doubts over the credibility of its electoral process.
A Voting Base Already Reduced
Before the last HCA elections, a major corrective step was initiated. The then Supreme Court-appointed Single-Member Committee headed by Justice L. Nageswara Rao conducted a detailed scrutiny of the association’s affiliated clubs. His findings were startling.
Out of the 230 affiliated clubs, as many as 57 clubs were found to be in violation of conflict-of-interest norms. Many of these clubs were reportedly run by individuals who simultaneously held administrative posts within the association — a practice that clearly violates the governance principles laid down in cricket administration reforms.
Justice Rao subsequently barred those 57 clubs from participating in the elections through an order dated 31 July 2023, effectively reducing the voting base from 230 to around 170 eligible voters. An interim report outlining these findings was later submitted to the Supreme Court of India.
However, that was only part of the story.
The Pending List of 15 Clubs
Justice Rao reportedly received emails indicating that around 15 additional clubs also appeared to fall within the conflict-of-interest category after the July 31, 2023 order was issued.
While submitting his interim report to the Supreme Court and appointing the Electoral Officer, the responsibility of completing the scrutiny of these 15 clubs was entrusted to V. S. Sampath, who had been appointed as the Electoral Officer to conduct the HCA elections.
However, when the time came to proceed with the polls, Sampath cited paucity of time and conducted the elections without resolving the status of these 15 clubs.
As a result, the elections were completed with these clubs retaining their voting rights, even though questions regarding their eligibility remained unresolved.
The Supreme Court’s Direction
After the elections to the Apex Council in 2023, Justice Nageswara Rao submitted his final recommendations to the Supreme Court. In his report, he observed that it was imperative that an inquiry be conducted against the concerned 15 clubs and individuals to determine whether they were indeed in violation of conflict-of-interest norms.
Importantly, the responsibility for conducting this inquiry was entrusted to the newly elected Apex Council of HCA.
The Supreme Court subsequently directed that the recommendations of the Single-Member Committee be implemented.
Why This Matters Now
With the Treasurer’s election now scheduled and only a few days left for polling, the unresolved status of those 15 clubs once again comes under scrutiny.
If the earlier findings of the Single-Member Committee are taken to their logical conclusion, and if further scrutiny confirms conflict-of-interest violations, the number of eligible voting clubs could shrink further.
In other words, the credibility of the electoral outcome may depend heavily on whether these clubs are allowed to vote.
A simple administrative decision could therefore bring long-delayed clarity to the voter list.
Political and Administrative Turmoil
The HCA’s troubles over the past few years have not been limited to electoral disputes.
The association was thrust into national headlines following a complaint by Sunrisers Hyderabad, which alleged that HCA officials had demanded additional complimentary passes for IPL matches. The franchise claimed that pressure tactics bordering on blackmail were being used.
The complaint triggered a chain of developments:
- A state vigilance inquiry reportedly found prima facie evidence of irregularities.
- The Government of Telangana ordered a CID investigation.
- Subsequently, the HCA President, Secretary, and Treasurer were arrested and sent to judicial custody.
While the arrests sparked heated debate within cricketing circles — with some alleging political motives and others insisting the action was evidence-based — the episode further deepened the crisis of credibility surrounding the association’s administration.
A Long Shadow of Litigation
Complicating matters further is a long-running financial dispute involving a former HCA administrator who had invested in the construction of stadium infrastructure through a private enterprise.
Initially claiming reimbursement for his investment, the matter went to court. Over the years, the compensation amount reportedly escalated from around ₹28 crore to nearly ₹67 crore, owing to accumulated interest and legal orders.
The issue eventually became intertwined with HCA’s internal politics and power struggles, illustrating how cricket administration in Hyderabad has often blurred the lines between sport, business, and politics.
A Moment of Institutional Test
The upcoming Treasurer’s election therefore presents more than just a routine administrative exercise.
It is a test of institutional credibility for the current Apex Council.
Will the leadership act on the Supreme Court’s direction and complete the scrutiny of the remaining 15 clubs? Or will the issue once again be pushed aside in the interest of expediency?
For an association that has spent years battling allegations of mismanagement, litigation, and administrative turmoil, the answer may well determine whether HCA can finally turn the page — or remain trapped in its familiar cycle of controversy.
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