As the Hyderabad Cricket Association (HCA) enters a new era under its recently elected leadership, I wish to place before the Governing Council a long-pending and genuine plea on behalf of several former Hyderabad cricketers who represented the state with distinction but today find themselves excluded from any form of financial support.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has prescribed a minimum eligibility criterion of 25 first-class matches for its pension scheme. There may be valid administrative reasons for such a benchmark at the national level. However, should a state association like the HCA not consider extending a helping hand to those who represented Hyderabad with equal passion and commitment but fell short of that numerical cut-off?
There are nearly 30 to 40 former Hyderabad cricketers, many of whom played in the 1970s and 1980s, who do not qualify for the BCCI pension despite having served Hyderabad cricket with dedication. Today, most of them are in their advanced years. Many face financial difficulties and continue to remain associated with the game as coaches, mentors, or guides in private academies for modest remuneration.
The reality of our era was vastly different from what it is today. A Ranji Trophy season then comprised barely three or four matches, unlike the seven or eight matches available to players today. Opportunities to accumulate appearances were limited. Consequently, many capable cricketers who would have comfortably crossed the 25-match mark under the current structure were denied that possibility simply because of the format and schedule that existed during their playing days.
Hyderabad cricket of that era was also extraordinarily competitive. The state team boasted several Test cricketers, making it extremely difficult even for talented players to secure a place in the playing XI. Often, a player could remain part of the squad and yet not get sufficient opportunities. In such circumstances, even playing 15 to 20 first-class matches was a significant achievement.
What is disappointing is that this category of former players has largely remained invisible in discussions concerning player welfare. The recent gathering of former cricketers under the Indian Cricketers’ Association (ICA) discussed issues such as enhancement of pensions and medical benefits for existing beneficiaries. While those demands are perfectly legitimate, the concerns of those who fall outside the BCCI pension net did not receive adequate attention.
This omission hurts because the contribution of a cricketer cannot be measured solely by whether he played just 5 or 10 or 15 or 20 or 24 matches or 25. Representing Hyderabad in the Ranji Trophy or prestigious tournaments such as the Irani Trophy was, and remains, a matter of immense pride. Many of us had the privilege of sharing dressing rooms with legends such as M.L. Jaisimha, Abbas Ali Baig and other stalwarts who shaped Hyderabad’s rich cricketing legacy. Those memories remain priceless, but memories alone cannot address the challenges that come with advancing age.
Many former players also rendered additional services to Hyderabad cricket as selectors, coaches and mentors. Some are still awaiting payments for services rendered years ago. Such issues deserve a sympathetic and fair hearing.
I belong to a generation that witnessed administrators like Ghulam Ahmed and P.R. Mansingh, whose passion for Hyderabad cricket and respect for former players set high standards. Former cricketers felt valued and connected to the association. Their contribution was acknowledged not merely in words but through gestures that reflected gratitude and institutional respect.
The purpose of this appeal is not to criticise anyone. Nor is it to seek special treatment. It is simply a request for recognition and compassion.
The new HCA leadership, steered by Secretary A. Jeevan Reddy and supported by respected personalities such as Justice Naveen Rao, has an opportunity to address this long-standing issue. The financial burden of creating a modest welfare or pension scheme for former state cricketers who fall below the BCCI’s eligibility criteria would be minimal for an association that is now in a far stronger financial position than it was several decades ago.
I therefore urge the HCA Governing Council to convene a meeting of former Hyderabad cricketers who represented the state in the Ranji Trophy, Irani Trophy and other major domestic tournaments but remain outside the BCCI pension framework. Let their voices be heard. Let their grievances be examined. Most importantly, let Hyderabad cricket honour those who contributed to its proud history but have been forgotten by time.
A grateful association must never abandon its veterans. The measure of a sporting institution is not merely how it nurtures its future stars, but how it cares for those who built its foundations.
