Noel David Speaks: Lost Glory, Dirty Politics, and the Last Hope for Revival
In this latest instalment of our deep dive into the decline of Hyderabad cricket, we bring you a candid, if cautious, conversation with a man who lived the glory days and has silently witnessed its unravelling — former India allrounder Noel David.
He’s humbled. He’s guarded. And he’s painfully aware that speaking too freely could stir controversies. But behind the diplomatic tone lies a burning truth he can no longer suppress: Hyderabad cricket is broken. Not bent. Broken. And unless those who once wore the badge with pride rise above egos and politics, the rot may soon become terminal.
To understand Noel David, you must first know where he comes from — not just geographically, but emotionally and economically. Hailing from a poor family, his life could’ve gone in a very different direction had it not been for the timely intervention of two people: Brother K.M. Joseph of All Saints High School and cricket coach Denzil Balm.
All Saints High School — alma mater to legends like Mohammad Azharuddin and Khalid Abdul Qayyum — was David’s launchpad. “I was a decent sprinter, doing well in the 200 meters,” he recalls, “but it was Brother Joseph and Coach Balm who saw a cricketer in me.” They nurtured him into a genuine off-spinning allrounder. The journey from dusty school fields to the Hyderabad Under-19 team began there.
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Then came Kamlesh Parekh, the Gujarati cricket patron who picked David for his league side. “I came from nothing. Couldn’t afford gear, forget travel. Kamlesh bhai ensured I never had to worry about money. I owe him everything,” David says with a rare emotional break.
The India Call-Up That Never Really Was
David made his Ranji Trophy debut in 1992 against Baroda. Five years later, in one of the more baffling decisions by Indian selectors, he was sent to the West Indies as a replacement for the injured Javagal Srinath — despite being an off-spinner and middle-order bat. “It was a muddled call,” he admits. Yet, in Port-of-Spain, he made an impression with 3/21 on debut. He was even picked for the 1997 Asia Cup in Colombo.
But the dream fizzled just as quickly. He was benched for most games, relegated to 12th man status, and unceremoniously dropped. He never played for India again.
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“I feel bad. I was in the team for the Independence Cup, for the Asia Cup — but never made the XI. It wasn’t performance. I’d done well for India A under Krishnamachari Srikkanth, scoring 400 runs and taking 20 wickets in Ranji Trophy season, before getting into the SAARC tournament team. But there were whispers — about my so-called ‘attitude’,” he says, the pain still fresh.
And what of that infamous quote attributed to Sachin Tendulkar — “Who is Noel David?” “Not true,” David insists. “It was Ajit Wadekar, Sir. Not Sachin. And even that, I believe, was just a reaction, not mockery.”
The Blame Game in Hyderabad Cricket
Today, David is more selector than player, more observer than doer. And his views on the Hyderabad Cricket Association (HCA) may surprise many. While most blame former greats like Shivlal Yadav or Arshad Ayub for the association’s decay, David staunchly defends them.
“No, those allegations are baseless,” he says firmly. “Both were committed to keeping administration separate from selection. I was a selector myself — not once did the President or Secretary interfere in our Ranji selections. Even Dr. M.V. Sridhar and John Manoj tried to do their best under impossible conditions.”
Even the oft-criticised “conflict of interest” — where club secretaries double as selectors — gets his defense. “They fight for their players, yes. But it’s based on performance, not nepotism. That’s their job,” he says.
So, what went wrong?
“The real decline began when the money came in,” he says bluntly. “Once BCCI started pumping in funds, the HCA became a battleground — not for cricketing ideals, but for power and profit. Elections became expensive, dirty, and divisive.”
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He doesn’t name names, but the implications are clear: power-hungry individuals hijacked the game, using the association not as a platform to promote cricket.
And as the administrators bickered, tournaments died. “Where is the Buchi Babu, Moin-ud-Dowlah, or the KCA Shield now?” he asks. “These were tournaments where real talent was born.”
Even the league system has collapsed, once the beating heart of Hyderabad cricket. “In the early 90s, you played at least 30-40 matches a year. School tournaments like Mono Trophy, senior and junior zonals — they gave players a stage. Today, there’s nothing.”
The Road to Resurrection
So, what’s the way out?
David offers a clear plan:
- Revive the lost tournaments — Moin-ud-Dowlah, Buchi Babu, Zonal games, school-level fixtures.
- Mandatory participation by senior players — Every international or senior state player must play at least 10-12 league matches a year.
- Fix the league calendar — Plan fixtures meticulously and enforce them strictly.
- End political infighting — “It’s time former players drop their egos and come together. Stop waiting for HCA positions or BCCI assignments. Do it for the game.”
He remembers a time when Test players played shoulder-to-shoulder with youngsters in league games. “That raised standards. That inspired the next generation. We need that again.”
Noel David’s voice may not carry the weight of an Azharuddin or a VVS Laxman in the public eye, but he speaks with the honesty of someone who has seen the rise, fall, and possible rebirth of Hyderabad cricket. His is not a cry of bitterness, but of disappointment. And yet, there’s a sliver of hope.
If the former greats — the ones who once brought pride to the city — can bury their personal agendas, there’s still time to rescue Hyderabad cricket from the quicksand of corruption and neglect.
But the clock is ticking.
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