Our Sports Desk
Hyderabad: The Hyderabad Cricket Association (HCA), a founder member of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), was conspicuous by its absence at the BCCI’s 95th Annual General Meeting, marking an unprecedented setback for the state’s premier cricket body.
The HCA representative could not participate in the AGM reportedly because the recommendation cleared by the Telangana High Court-appointed Single Member Committee reached the BCCI Election Officer after the stipulated deadline.
The development has once again brought the HCA’s internal governance issues into sharp focus, with the Association caught in a prolonged battle involving rival groups, court cases and investigations by various agencies.
The HCA has been under the supervision of court-appointed committees and ombudsmen over the past several years, including former Supreme Court judge L Nageswara Rao and the present incumbent Justice P Naveen Rao. Justice Naveen Rao has been entrusted with wide powers to oversee the functioning and clean-up of the Association.
Despite these interventions, differences within the elected Apex Council continue to affect the day-to-day functioning of the HCA. A former HCA Secretary has also publicly questioned the functioning of the Association’s administration, including its CEO.
Under Secretary Jeevan Reddy, the HCA has taken some initiatives aimed at expanding cricket-related activities. The appointment of former India Test player Ambati Rayudu to oversee game-related operations and the successful conduct of the TG20 tournament were among the recent steps intended to move the Association beyond its traditional Hyderabad-centric activities.
However, the internal differences have continued to overshadow these initiatives. The situation has been further complicated by legal proceedings involving the Secretary and four members of the Apex Council, adding another layer to the already strained relationship among office-bearers.
Attempts to convene the HCA’s AGM have also run into difficulties. Acting President Sardar Daljit Singh reportedly made two attempts to convene the meeting, but both were cancelled amid differences over the process, including the reported non-receipt of the meeting agenda by the court-appointed SEC and lack of cooperation among office-bearers.
The dispute involving Classic Cricket Club and 56 other affiliated clubs has added another complication. The clubs have challenged their exclusion from voting and participation in HCA AGMs and EGMs. The Telangana High Court has left the issue for resolution through the mechanism appointed for overseeing the Association. With HCA elections also due, clarity on the status of these clubs remains significant.
Meanwhile, the Telangana Lokayukta has reportedly directed the State CID to submit its report within a stipulated timeframe on a complaint filed by the Telangana Cricket Association (TCA), which has raised allegations concerning financial irregularities and the representation of aspiring cricketers from districts across the State.
The latest BCCI AGM episode has therefore added to the questions surrounding the HCA’s governance, at a time when the Association is attempting to project a renewed focus on cricket administration and development across Telangana.
