Maheshwar Singh
The Hyderabad Cricket Association’s decision to appoint former India Test opener Wasim Jaffar as head coach is, at first glance, a welcome development. More importantly, it reflects an uncomfortable reality—that many former Hyderabad cricketers who once brought immense glory to the state have, over the years, lost the confidence of the cricketing fraternity because of their perceived alignment with one lobby or another within the HCA.
Perhaps this compelled the new HCA Secretary, Jeevan Reddy, to look outside Hyderabad for professional leadership. If that is indeed the thinking, it deserves appreciation.
Yet one appointment alone cannot cure a system that has been allowed to deteriorate over decades.
Hyderabad cricket today finds itself trapped in allegations of corruption, nepotism, favouritism and the deeply damaging “pay-to-play” culture, where affluent parents often stand a better chance of seeing their children progress than genuinely talented youngsters from modest backgrounds. The dreams of producing another Kapil Dev, Sachin Tendulkar or the latest teenage sensation Sooryavanshi are increasingly being commercialised.
The biggest beneficiaries of this unhealthy ecosystem have been middlemen and a section of private cricket academies, who exploit the aspirations of gullible parents while offering little assurance of genuine cricketing development.
Against this backdrop, bringing in accomplished professionals from outside the state may help restore credibility to coaching and selections. However, the larger question remains: can even outsiders remain insulated from the same network of influence that has plagued Hyderabad cricket for years? Can they resist pressure from vested interests, private academies and former administrators who continue to wield considerable influence?
That remains the real test.
Personally, I welcome Wasim Jaffar’s appointment. His experience, temperament and understanding of the game can greatly benefit Hyderabad cricket. But I would also urge the HCA Secretary and Ambati Rayudu, who has recently been entrusted with overseeing cricketing affairs, to think beyond the immediate assignment of coaching representative teams.
Rayudu, whom I have known over the years, is a straightforward and uncompromising cricketer. His aggressive approach on the field should now translate into meaningful administrative reforms.
Jaffar’s greatest contribution should not be confined to coaching just fourteen selected players before returning home. His expertise must reach hundreds of coaches across Telangana. If he can periodically conduct structured coaching workshops, interact with local coaches, answer technical questions and help establish a modern coaching framework, thousands of aspiring cricketers would ultimately benefit.
Every player is different, but coaching systems should not be. A standardised and scientific approach would significantly reduce confusion among young cricketers and improve the quality of coaching throughout the state.
Equally encouraging are reports that the HCA Secretary is insisting on greater financial transparency from affiliated clubs regarding the utilisation of BCCI grants meant for cricket development.
Predictably, some club officials appear unhappy about being repeatedly asked to submit financial records. But one must ask a simple question: if there is nothing to hide, why object to accountability?
More disturbing are long-standing allegations that certain affiliated clubs have effectively become commercial assets. Some are accused of sub-leasing club affiliations, while others allegedly operate multiple clubs through benami arrangements, converting HCA into little more than a financial enterprise instead of a cricketing institution.
These allegations are serious enough to have reportedly attracted investigations by the CID, while similar complaints have also reached the Lok Ayukta. If proven, such practices deserve the strongest possible action.
If these reforms are pursued sincerely, Hyderabad cricket can still reclaim its lost stature. But the resistance will be formidable. Those who have benefited from the existing system are unlikely to surrender their influence without a fight. For many, HCA has become a lucrative ecosystem rather than an institution dedicated to nurturing cricket.
That is precisely why the BCCI cannot remain a silent spectator. If it is genuinely committed to ensuring that its financial assistance is used for the development of cricket, it must actively monitor how those funds are spent and support genuine reform within HCA.
As for the much-publicised TG-20 initiative, I remain unconvinced that it has genuinely expanded opportunities for talented youngsters from the districts of Telangana. Having served as a selector myself, I have personally witnessed the disparities that often denied deserving players their rightful opportunities.
Fortunately, I derive immense satisfaction from one chapter of my own cricketing journey. The Hyderabad Ranji Trophy team selected by our committee went on to script history by winning the Ranji Trophy for the first time in independent India. For a former cricketer and selector, there can be no greater reward than knowing that one discharged his responsibility honestly and contributed to a historic achievement.
Administrative positions and titles are temporary. Integrity, fairness and the legacy one leaves behind endure far longer.
Hyderabad cricket deserves nothing less.
