Special Correspondent
The time has come for Hyderabad cricket to undertake serious course correction. Whatever may have happened under previous administrations — whether driven by ego, indifference, internal politics, or ulterior motives — the responsibility now rests on the shoulders of the new HCA Secretary, Jeevan Reddy, to rectify some of the association’s most glaring failures. Among them, none is more important than restoring dignity and respect to the former cricketers who represented Hyderabad with pride at various levels — be it Ranji Trophy, South Zone, or Rest of India.
At the very least, the Hyderabad Cricket Association must extend basic courtesies to its former players by providing a minimum of two complimentary passes for matches in Hyderabad. More importantly, HCA should seriously explore introducing a welfare structure or even a nominal pension scheme on the lines of several other state associations. These are not acts of charity. They are gestures of institutional gratitude towards those who carried Hyderabad cricket through generations.
Across the country, strong cricket associations celebrate and protect their former stars. The true character of any sporting institution is ultimately reflected not by its buildings, elections, or public relations exercises, but by the way it treats those who served the game without influence, lobbying power, or visibility.
The long list of former Hyderabad Ranji cricketers is not merely archival data. It is the forgotten history of Hyderabad cricket itself.
Players like the late Abdul Azeem, N. P. Singh, Yuvraj Singh, Govind Raj, Jyothi Prasad, Mumtaz Hussain, Noshir Mehta and Akshath Reddy represented Hyderabad with distinction across long domestic careers. Many belonged to difficult cricketing eras when there was neither financial security nor media attention, and certainly no institutional support system. Yet, after dedicating years — in some cases decades — to Hyderabad cricket, several former players quietly disappeared from the system once their playing careers ended.
Not every cricketer had the benefit of family backing, group affiliations, political access, or influence within cricket circles. While some naturally transitioned into positions such as selectors, coaches, managers, or committee members, many equally deserving former players never received meaningful opportunities despite their sustained contribution to Hyderabad cricket.
That is where Hyderabad cricket needs honest introspection.
The last decade has unquestionably been among the weakest and most turbulent periods in Hyderabad cricket — both on and off the field. Performances declined steadily, administrative credibility suffered repeated blows, and public confidence weakened significantly. If results over such a prolonged period have been disappointing, then merely rotating the same set of individuals through different posts cannot be described as reform.
Real reform demands a genuine reset.
Several successful cricket associations across India moved forward precisely because they widened participation and continuously refreshed their systems instead of concentrating opportunities within a closed circle.
The Mumbai Cricket Association regularly honours former cricketers during marquee matches and ensures ex-players remain actively involved in talent development and cricket operations. The Tamil Nadu Cricket Association built one of the strongest league structures in Indian domestic cricket while consistently integrating former cricketers into coaching, scouting, and developmental frameworks. Similarly, the Karnataka State Cricket Association created stronger continuity through professional systems, grassroots identification, and broader involvement of former players in cricket administration and development.
Even the Board of Control for Cricket in India recognised long ago that former cricketers deserve dignity through pension and welfare measures.
Hyderabad cricket can — and must — learn from these examples.
Perhaps the time has come for HCA to conduct a complete review of cricketing appointments and consciously create opportunities for a new generation of selectors, managers, coaches, and cricket committee members, particularly from among deserving former players who were overlooked for years despite their service to the game.
If Hyderabad cricket struggled for the better part of the last decade, then those who remained continuously involved in cricketing decision-making during this period must also accept institutional accountability. There is nothing wrong in stepping aside temporarily to allow fresh thinking, new energy, wider participation, and professional restructuring.
This is not personal criticism.
It is institutional accountability.
At the same time, HCA must rebuild a culture of respect towards former cricketers through meaningful measures — complimentary match passes, welfare and pension support for long-serving players, formal recognition programmes, and annual ceremonies honouring unsung Hyderabad cricketers who contributed silently to the game without ever seeking publicity or power.
Because great cricket associations are not built merely through stadiums, elections, press conferences, or internal politics.
They are built by institutions that remember the men who wore their colours with pride long before power equations and vested interests took over the game.
Hyderabad cricket owes at least that much to its forgotten dressing room.
