In a system long plagued by allegations of “pay-to-play,” factionalism, and administrative drift, the Hyderabad Cricket Association (HCA) finds itself at a critical crossroads. Years of court battles, suspensions, and credibility crises have eroded public trust and hurt the very core of the game—talent and fair opportunity. Against this turbulent backdrop, a new face steps in with a promise many before him made, but few delivered on.
Jeevan Reddy, elected unopposed as HCA Secretary for the remainder of the term following the suspension of former secretary Devraj, enters office under the watch of the High Court-appointed Supervisory Committee led by Justice Naveen Rao. With the association entangled in legal disputes and under scrutiny for systemic irregularities, Reddy’s task is daunting. Yet, in his first candid interaction, he comes across as grounded, blunt, and determined to restore credibility—insisting that transparency, accountability, and collective responsibility will define his tenure.
In this exclusive conversation with your favourite e-paper editor MS Shanker, Jeevan Reddy speaks with rare candour—acknowledging the rot, calling out stakeholders, and outlining a roadmap that, if executed, could revive Hyderabad cricket’s lost glory.
Q: What are your immediate priorities, given HCA’s troubled track record and persistent allegations of ‘pay-to-play’?
Jeevan Reddy: You’ve raised the most important issue straightaway. Let me be blunt—yes, ending the ‘pay-to-play’ culture is my top priority. There will be zero tolerance going forward. Selection processes will be made fully transparent, and I expect cooperation from every stakeholder.
At the same time, I want to make a very strong appeal to parents of aspiring cricketers. Do not get carried away and spend money in an attempt to fast-track your child’s career. This mindset is not only harmful to the system but also to your own child’s long-term growth.
It leads to several serious consequences:
Truly deserving players miss out – When money influences selection, merit suffers, and genuine talent gets sidelined.
Children get conditioned to shortcuts – Instead of learning resilience and earning their place, they begin to expect easy pathways.
You weaken their ability to succeed independently – Cricket, like life, demands struggle, discipline, and mental strength. Buying opportunities takes that away.
You fuel an unhealthy ecosystem – This creates and strengthens a network of middlemen and agents who turn the sport into a business, making it bigger and more exploitative every year.
Let the sport remain what it is meant to be—competitive, merit-based, and enjoyable. Success earned through performance will always last longer than success bought through influence.
Q: How do you plan to restore confidence among cricket lovers who have lost faith in HCA’s administration?
JR: Trust cannot be demanded—it has to be rebuilt. I can only appeal sincerely to all stakeholders to support this effort. The club secretaries backed me unanimously, and I intend to listen to their concerns and resolve them. But, let me be clear—corruption, nepotism, and lobbying, whether from individuals or private academies, will not be tolerated. If we want credibility back, we must collectively draw a line.
Q: Are you prepared to take on entrenched vested interests and power brokers within the system?
JR: Absolutely. With everyone’s cooperation, the era of power brokers will end. Hyderabad cricket has a proud legacy, and restoring that glory is my commitment.
Yes, my tenure is limited, and the challenges are many. But I have a clear roadmap. We will address issues in phases, ensuring every stakeholder is taken along in the process.
Q: The issue of ‘conflict of interest’ has led to suspension of several clubs. What is your stand on pending cases?
JR: This is very much on my agenda. Those who fall under the ‘conflict of interest’ clause should voluntarily come forward and resolve their positions. There is no need for fear—only for honesty.
I am confident we can address this issue sooner rather than later, but it must be done within the legal framework.
Q: Will you act on pending cases—even if it means disqualifying influential members—to ensure justice?
JR: Our approach will be firm but fair. I am not here to accuse anyone, but if there are violations, they must be corrected. We will also look into inactive or ‘disappeared’ institutional clubs and set records straight.
Every decision will be legally sound so that it stands scrutiny in any court of law.
Q: There are allegations that individuals owning multiple teams influence elections. Should such practices be curbed?
JR: These concerns are widely discussed, and rightly so. Any decision we take will be transparent and in the larger interest of the game. The media will be kept informed at every stage.
Q: League matches have seen delays in the past. Will you ensure timely completion of tournaments and league calendar?
JR: We are aware of the delays and the concerns surrounding them. My focus is to streamline the schedule and ensure that all pending competitions and administrative processes are completed without unnecessary delay.
We cannot allow the game to suffer because of administrative inefficiency.
Q: What action will you take against allegations of clubs leasing teams, leading to players buying spots?
JR: This issue has been brought to my notice. I will raise it directly with club secretaries in my upcoming meetings. Their cooperation is crucial to correcting such practices.
However, I would also like to caution stakeholders and parents here.
Clubs that are leased or operated purely as commercial entities are unlikely to prioritise player welfare. Their primary objective becomes profit, often on a yearly cycle. In such systems, development takes a backseat, and decisions are driven by financial returns rather than cricketing merit.
Parents and players must be cautious and aware of where they are investing their time, trust, and money.
If wrongdoing exists, it will be addressed. But reform requires collective will.
Q: How will you ensure proper utilisation of BCCI grants meant for grassroots development?
JR: For the next 6–8 months, my focus is on clean and transparent governance. We are already in discussions with a reputed auditing firm—one that is also associated with the Board of Control for Cricket in India—to streamline HCA’s financial systems.
From receiving grants to allocating them efficiently for player development through clubs, every rupee will be accounted for. Transparency in finances is non-negotiable.
Jeevan Reddy doesn’t promise miracles—but he does promise intent, integrity, and action. In a system where excuses have long overshadowed accountability, his blunt admissions and clear priorities stand out.
Whether this marks the beginning of a genuine clean-up or just another chapter in HCA’s troubled history will depend not just on him—but on whether stakeholders, long accused of enabling the rot, are finally willing to change.
For now, Hyderabad cricket watches—with cautious hope.
