MS Shanker
When the Hyderabad Cricket Association (HCA) conceived its Academy of Excellence, it was meant to be the cradle for future cricketing stars — a platform to identify, nurture, and promote young talent from across Telangana. Nearly two decades later, that dream lies in disrepair, betrayed by the very administrators entrusted to build it.
What began as a noble idea soon fell prey to political manipulation, internal rivalries, and vested interests. Instead of being a centre of excellence, the academy has become little more than a line item in the association’s accounts — used to reward loyalists rather than to groom cricketers.
The idea of the academy took shape during the tenure of a former India Test cricketer who wanted Hyderabad to reclaim its lost cricketing glory. Over the years, several former stars such as M.V. Narasimha Rao, Kawaljit Singh, Vijay Mohan Raj, and Vanka Pratap served as its directors. Many of them came with concrete plans — structured coaching programs, fitness protocols, and grassroots scouting initiatives.
Yet, none received the support they needed from the elected apex council. Funds were withheld, suggestions ignored, and interference was constant. One former director even admitted that “constructive ideas were shot down, and not a rupee was released for genuine development.”
Perhaps the most glaring example was that of M.V. Narasimha Rao, an India all-rounder who left his coaching career in Ireland to serve his home state. He was unceremoniously sacked during a power struggle that erupted when the Supreme Court intervened and appointed an Ombudsman. Ironically, this was the same association that once celebrated Hyderabad’s only Ranji Trophy triumph in 1986–87 — a victory Narasimha Rao himself helped script.
For all the money and muscle flexed in HCA elections, the academy’s on-ground impact has been negligible. Two decades later, it stands as a monument of mismanagement — producing few cricketers of note and leaving the state’s domestic structure in tatters.
The contrast with the past is stark. In the 1970s and ’80s, Hyderabad cricket clubs such as SBI, SBH, Syndicate Bank, Andhra Bank, VST, and MCC were powerhouses. These sides fielded Test and Ranji players like M.L. Jaisimha, Syed Abid Ali, Krishnamurthy, Prahlad, Jayantilal, K Sainath, Shivlal Yadav, Mehar Baba, Narasimha Rao, Md Azharuddin, Arshad Ayub, Abdul Azeem, and Kawaljit Singh, to name a few, in making local league cricket as competitive as a state match.
Today, that vibrancy is gone. Club cricket has weakened, the talent pipeline is broken, and the HCA’s academy — instead of bridging the gap — has become little more than a bureaucratic showpiece.
Adding to the decay is the mushrooming of private cricket academies, which have turned into lucrative businesses — much like the private educational institutions that charge exorbitant fees and even manipulate entrance tests to secure ranks for a price. In cricket too, several such academies are bleeding gullible parents dry (some within the city and others on the city outskirts, closer to elite new colonies, are even charging additional Rs 50k to Rs 1L), exploiting their dreams of seeing their children become the next Kapil, Sachin, Rohit, Kohli, or Gill. Many of these academies hire the names of reputed players like VVS Laxman or other former stars merely for brand value, and some even “buy” berths in state teams for mediocre players, denying opportunities to genuinely talented but financially struggling youngsters of like Yashasvi.
The greed doesn’t stop there. Many elected HCA apex council members prefer recruiting players from these academies, as each academy represents a potential vote bank, often controlling 4–5 clubs under benami names. One such academy was originally founded by a former Test star, but after he accepted a more lucrative overseas assignment, it was deceitfully taken over by lesser-known cricketers with questionable integrity. That takeover marked a “rags to riches” story built on mortgaging the very soul of the game. The academy has since reportedly changed hands again, now owned by a major conglomerate led by another former celebrity Test cricketer.
This conglomerate’s influence allegedly extends deep into the HCA, prompting the most corrupt and dishonest members of its apex council to compromise the interests of the institution. What was once envisioned as an Academy of Excellence has instead become a monument to mismanagement — a grand structure with no purpose, failing to nurture the next generation of players.
Recently, the truncated HCA apex council reinstated Kanwaljit Singh, a respected former Ranji player, as Director of the Academy. His appointment was expected to mark a new beginning — but instead, it has spiralled into yet another controversy.
Kanwaljit’s appointment had rekindled hope among many, as he was seen as one of the few relatively non-controversial figures in state cricket. Yet, despite being in the role for over two months, he has reportedly not been consulted in team selections — though this may not strictly fall within his mandate.
Meanwhile, the acting leadership — President Sardar Daljit Singh and Joint Secretary Basavaraju — has allegedly gone ahead with announcing the state U-23 and U-19 teams, amid serious allegations of age fraud and selection irregularities that threaten to further damage the state’s already fragile reputation ahead of the BCCI tournaments.
Even in the women’s selections, similar charges have surfaced — and the team’s recent performances tell their own story. Aggrieved parents of several U-23 and U-19 aspirants have complained that deserving players were ignored, while unqualified or favoured candidates were picked instead.
Even the High Court-appointed Supervisory Committee, headed by Justice Naveen Rao, has drawn criticism for its inaction. Despite receiving multiple complaints, to the committee has remained largely silent.
Ironically, one of the very apex council members earlier reprimanded by the court for defying its orders continues to wield influence, aided by former administrators-turned-power brokers — individuals once censured for the same misconduct that now haunts HCA again.
In a message to the Supervisory Committee, Kanwaljit Singh has sought intervention, expressing his willingness to assist in a transparent, merit-based selection process — even though it falls beyond the academy’s technical mandate. His plea reflects the frustration of many within Hyderabad cricket who still care.
Unless the rot within HCA is addressed, the Academy of Excellence will remain what it has long been — a mirage of excellence built on the ruins of ambition.
