Special Reports
The Lone Fighter: Chitti Sridhar’s Battle for Clean Cricket MS Shanker In the murky politics of the Hyderabad Cricket Association (HCA), where factions and power brokers rule the roost, few dare to stand alone. One such rare figure is Chitti Sridhar, secretary of Acrylic Cricket Club, and arguably one of the most vocal rebel administrators…
Every year, September 17 should remind us of one of independent India’s most decisive moments—the liberation of Hyderabad from the clutches of an autocratic Nizam and his fanatical Razakar militia. Yet for decades, the Congress twisted this historical truth, deliberately downplaying the heroism of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel and the Indian Army. Instead of calling it…
The Standing Committee on Chemicals & Fertilizers (2024–25) of the 18th Lok Sabha, chaired by Kirti Azad Jha, has tabled its Eighth Report on the Demand for Grants (2025–26). Among its many observations, the Committee turned a spotlight on the National Institutes of Pharmaceutical Education and Research (NIPERs), particularly their placement records. The Department of…
S Venkateshwaran I welcome this debate on whether the BCCI should amend its constitution to accommodate the genuine demand of the Telangana Cricket Association. As a former Secretary of the Hyderabad Cricket Association (HCA), I consider it my responsibility to speak with honesty and clarity, drawing on my own experience Let me admit upfront: there…
This is a response to my article yesterday, titled “Time for BCCI to Break Free from Rotten State Units,” published in these ‘Special Reports’ columns. The response comes from a Club Secretary of the Hyderabad Cricket Association (HCA), who prefers to remain anonymous in view of the prevailing volatile situation. We welcome similar perspectives—whether in…
Like thousands of cricket lovers across the historic city of Hyderabad, I too felt a rare and immense joy this week. As a former Ranji player and someone still coaching youngsters even at this stage of life, that joy comes naturally—born out of pure passion and love for the game. After years of heartbreak and…
In the annals of Indian sports history, few names shine as brightly in table tennis as Mir Khasim Ali. Born in Hyderabad, then part of Andhra Pradesh, this remarkable athlete carved a legendary path during the 1960s and early 1970s, establishing himself as one of the country’s most celebrated paddlers and a true pioneer of…
MS Shanker Indian cricket is booming on television screens and in stadiums, but the same cannot be said of the governance behind it. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), the most powerful and wealthiest cricketing body in the world, is tethered to state associations that are riddled with corruption, nepotism, and endless…
Dharam Guruva Reddy He is a lone warrior. A Business Management postgraduate from Osmania University, he captained its cricket team in the All-India Inter-University tournament and also led Nizam College before moving on to play county cricket for Sussex in the UK. For nearly a decade now, he has waged relentless legal battles since returning…
Judicial Oversight & Selective Cleansing MS Shanker When the rot in the Hyderabad Cricket Association (HCA) became too deep for internal repair, the matter spilled into the courts. What followed was a series of judicial interventions — Ombudsmen, Supervisory Committees, and Single-Member Inquiries — each tasked with cleansing an association drowning in corruption. Yet, despite…
