Special Reports
Shane Gould, born on November 23, 1956, in Sydney, Australia, is celebrated as one of the nation’s sporting icons. An extraordinary swimmer, Gould made revolutionary contributions to the sport during her prolific career in the 1970s. With an array of accolades and achievements, she not only redefined swimming in Australia but also inspired countless young…
For years, the Hyderabad Cricket Association (HCA) has been projected as a custodian of talent, the nursery that once produced the likes of ML Jaisimha, Mohammad Azharuddin, VVS Laxman, and a string of India internationals. But peel back the façade of cricketing pride, and one finds a cesspool of corruption, manipulation, and brazen looting of…
Club Secretaries Hold the Key MS Shanker In the past few weeks, I have been reaching out to those who matter most in Hyderabad cricket—not just former players, administrators, or politicians, but the men at the grassroots who truly decide the direction of the game: the club secretaries. With 216 affiliated clubs forming the electoral…
When I assumed charge as Director of the National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research (NIPER), Mohali, my vision was clear: to transform the institute into a true centre of excellence in pharmaceutical education, research, and skill development. By 2018, these efforts bore fruit when NIPER Mohali was ranked No. 1 in the country under…
Gulabrai Ramchand occupies an important place in the evolution of Indian cricket. Emerging in the 1950s, he offered something relatively rare in that era: a middle-order batsman who combined grit with attacking intent, a useful medium-pace bowler, and a leader who helped shift the team’s mentality toward greater competitiveness. His influence extended well beyond the…
The Indian selectors have announced the squad for next month’s T20 Asia Cup, but the tournament itself remains under a cloud. After the barbaric Pahalgam terror attack that killed 26 innocent tourists at the hands of Pakistan-backed militants, there is growing public outrage demanding that India reconsider playing with Pakistan. The government has yet to…
MS Shanker The Hyderabad Cricket Association (HCA) appears to be sinking deeper into crisis under its Acting President Sardar Daljit Singh, who has once again courted controversy by convening a Special General Body Meeting (SGM) in defiance of the association’s by-laws and amid a host of unresolved disputes. A letter dated August 14, issued by…
Dr. Sandhyaa Bombay Even after 79 years of independence, the shadow of English colonization still lingers over India. It is time we reclaim our linguistic heritage and restore pride in our languages. The legacy of colonial rule is not just about phrases like “Your Majesty,” “His Highness,” or “Me Lord.” It runs deeper—shaping thought, identity,…
The Vanishing Gold Cup: From Cricket’s Jewel to a Locked-Up Replica While chronicling the decay and disgrace that have plagued the Hyderabad Cricket Association (HCA), I would be remiss if I overlooked one of its most shameful episodes in this explosive series — the mysterious “melting away” of the once-prestigious Moin-ud-Dowlah Gold Cup Trophy. This…
Billy Mills, also known by his Lakota name Tamakoce Te’Hila (“Love of Country”), stands as one of the most inspirational figures in Olympic history. A Native American athlete from the Oglala Lakota tribe, Mills overcame tremendous adversity to achieve the unthinkable—winning a gold medal in the 10,000 meters at the 1964 Tokyo Olympics. His victory…
