Seeks accountability from Ambati Rayudu over alleged violations of Rules and Conflict of Interest
Hyderabad, July 23: The Telangana Cricket Association (TCA) on Thursday demanded an immediate independent review of the recent appointments of selectors, coaches and cricket managers in the Hyderabad Cricket Association (HCA), alleging serious violations of constitutional provisions, eligibility norms, cooling-off requirements and conflict-of-interest guidelines.
TCA General Secretary Dharam Guruva Reddy, in an official signed statement, alleged that the HCA’s decision to handpick former India cricketer Ambati Rayudu as Cricketing Affairs Coordinator has led to appointments allegedly being made in violation of the BCCI and HCA’s Constitution and By-Laws. He further alleged that selectors and coaches have been appointed at the behest of a select few, bypassing transparency and due process.
“The Secretary is allegedly ignorant of the nuances of the game, while Ambati Rayudu is known for his temperamental behaviour. If these allegations are true, it is a dangerous combination that can potentially damage Hyderabad cricket,” Guruva Reddy said.
Questioning whether constitutional governance has become optional in HCA, he said, “Ambati Rayudu may be a celebrated former international cricketer, but stardom is not constitutional immunity. No individual can be permitted to convert HCA’s cricketing operations into a personal power centre or bypass mandatory rules and procedures.”
The TCA has specifically sought an independent verification of the appointments of Akshath Reddy, T. Suman, Mehdi Hassan, Akash Bhandari, P. Ramesh Kumar and Inder Shekhar Reddy to various cricket committees. It has raised questions regarding their eligibility, cooling-off requirements, previous tenure, active playing status and conflict-of-interest disclosures.
The association has also sought complete disclosure of whether any committee members have associations with active cricket, commentary assignments, private cricket clubs, academies or other cricket-related establishments that could potentially result in conflicts of interest.
“A selector cannot simultaneously occupy positions where personal, professional, club or academy interests intersect with selection decisions. The HCA must disclose the qualifications, declarations and eligibility records of every appointee. The rulebook cannot be selectively applied,” Guruva Reddy said.
The TCA further alleged that coaches and cricket managers connected with private academies, clubs or cricketing establishments have been appointed without adequate transparency, raising serious concerns regarding independence and fairness.
“The most disturbing issue is the apparent pattern whereby individuals associated with influential private cricket academies and cricket networks are allegedly being given positions of influence within the cricketing ecosystem. If Ambati Rayudu has recommended or facilitated appointments involving persons linked to academies, clubs or establishments with which he has close personal or professional associations, the entire process must be placed in the public domain and independently examined. Friendship, proximity or association cannot replace qualifications, due process and merit,” he stated.
“The question is not whether someone is famous. The question is whether the process was lawful, transparent and free from conflict,” he added.
Expressing concern over what it termed the silence of the Single Member Committee (SMC) and other supervisory authorities, the TCA said effective oversight cannot mean selective silence.
“If the HCA By-Laws prescribe cooling-off periods, qualifications, tenure limits and conflict-of-interest disclosures, those rules must be enforced uniformly. The SMC cannot remain a silent spectator while appointments allegedly contrary to the HCA’s own rules are made. Silence in the face of repeated, documented complaints inevitably raises questions regarding the effectiveness of oversight and institutional accountability,” Guruva Reddy said.
The TCA clarified that it attributes no personal bias to any individual and that its demand is solely for an independent examination of the appointments and compliance records.
According to the association, the greatest victims of the alleged lawlessness are HCA’s member clubs and genuine cricketers, particularly aspiring players from Telangana’s districts who continue to struggle for fair access to trials, selections and professional opportunities.
“HCA belongs to its member clubs and cricket stakeholders—not to any celebrity, administrator, private academy network or closed group. No player should require a personal connection to receive a fair opportunity. Merit alone must remain the currency of cricket,” Guruva Reddy said.
The TCA has demanded an immediate independent review of all recent appointments of selectors, coaches and cricket managers; complete disclosure of qualifications and conflict-of-interest declarations; verification of compliance with HCA Rules 26, 28, 37, 38 and 39; and cancellation of any appointment found to be contrary to the HCA Constitution or By-Laws.
Issuing a clarion call to HCA member clubs, former cricketers, players and stakeholders, Guruva Reddy said: “TCA is not fighting for a chair; TCA is fighting for the institution. We stand with every HCA member who seeks constitutional governance, transparency and merit-based cricket administration. Let there be no misunderstanding—HCA is not the private property of Ambati Rayudu, any administrator, committee or private academy network. It belongs to its members and to the game itself. If the rules are being ignored, members must demand answers. If merit is being denied, members must demand justice. TCA will continue to stand with every genuine effort to restore transparency, accountability and clean cricket administration in Hyderabad cricket.”
