Narendra Pal Singh: A Quiet Warrior Speaks
In the long list of Hyderabad cricketers, there are stars and there are workhorses. And then, once in a while, you find a rare blend of both—a genuine athlete who let his performance do the talking, stayed clear of controversy, and yet, quietly left behind a legacy. Narendra Pal Singh is one such name.
In this eighth part of our series on how to revive Hyderabad cricket, I met one of the finest fast bowlers the state has produced. Towering, soft-spoken, and honest to the bone, N.P. Singh is a man whose cricketing journey, reflections, and ideas offer both inspiration and insight into the rot that plagues Hyderabad cricket—and how to fix it.
Born in Laksar, a small town in Uttarakhand, sports ran in Narendra Pal Singh’s blood. His father, the late Mr. Singh, was a national-level athlete who represented Indian Railways and donned Indian colours in volleyball. That athletic pedigree translated into a strong, broad-shouldered lad who would grow up to become a dependable right-arm medium-fast bowler for Hyderabad.
Unlike many others who rise through the under-12s, under-15s, and school circuits, Singh took a more unorthodox route. He parachuted into first-class cricket purely on the back of his performances in league matches. At just 20, he made his Ranji debut in the 1993–94 season.
What followed was a rock-solid career:
- 101 first-class matches
- 319 wickets at an average below 27
- 70 wickets in 48 List A matches at 24.68
- Fourth-highest wicket-taker in the 1998–99 Ranji season
- A key part of the Hyderabad side that reached the finals in 1999–2000
He played his last first-class match in December 2006, finishing as one of Hyderabad’s most capped players.
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In a candid, no-frills chat, Singh proved as unpretentious in conversation as he was consistent on the field. He talked about his cricketing journey without embellishments:
“I started playing league cricket in Hyderabad, then got selected for the India under-19 probables in 1992, and debuted in Ranji the next year. Later, I trained at MRF under Dennis Lillee. I played 15 years, got 318 wickets. We played with passion—no other motivation.”
He was generous in acknowledging his early supporters, too: “Venkateswaran of MP Sporting and Kamlesh Parikh of Gujarati CC helped me a lot in my initial days.”
What stood out most was his sincerity—and an almost philosophical detachment from any bitterness over missed opportunities or unfair treatment. This, in a cricket culture often drenched in ego and entitlement, is rare.
When asked whether merit is still a consideration in selections or whether it is routinely undermined by politics, Singh was emphatic.
“Merit must never be compromised. Sport is about competing and winning. If we don’t play our best teams, we won’t progress. As a senior selector for the last two years, we were uncompromising. We picked 15 players and five standbys purely on performance. We watched every match. No spot was gifted.”
The results, he says, spoke for themselves. “When selection is fair, players know they have a real shot. That confidence changes everything.”
To his credit, Singh didn’t dodge the tough question—why has Hyderabad cricket been in a steady decline, with not a single tournament win in the last year?
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His answer was blunt: “Because corruption is deeply entrenched. Money changes hands to play league matches, fix umpires, manipulate coaching staff, and selectors. It’s no longer about talent—it’s about influence and money. A handful of people—maybe 10 or 15—control the whole setup.”
Singh didn’t name names, but he didn’t need to. “Everyone knows who they are. Every judge’s report names them. Only when someone from outside—like Justice Nageswara Rao—was in charge did we see any real improvement. That brief period showed what’s possible when the rot is removed.”
On whether he supports the current way of electing office-bearers in the Hyderabad Cricket Association, Singh offered a diplomatic “No comment.”
“It’s a democratic process. Elections are as per the HCA guidelines. I don’t want to say more.”
Fair enough. But that didn’t stop me from probing deeper.
Why have so many former cricketers failed to clean up the system when given administrative roles?
Singh’s response was philosophical and damning in equal measure.
“It’s not about cricketers or non-cricketers. It’s about intent and integrity. If the system is weak, even good people will fail. We need strong checks and balances. A robust system can survive bad apples. A broken one enables them.”
In Hyderabad cricket, club secretaries wield more power than players or selectors. Singh agrees that the existing setup is deeply flawed.
“Yes, the club secretaries are controlling too much—some run multiple clubs and influence selections across all age groups. We need ‘One Club One Vote’ implemented in spirit, not just on paper.”
He supports my idea of a court-nominated panel comprising:
- Four former cricketers (of high integrity)
- One senior IAS officer
- One IPS officer
- One judicial representative
This panel, he says, should have oversight authority, while the influence of political and club interests in cricketing matters should be curtailed.
Narendra Pal Singh offers a pragmatic, well-thought-out blueprint to bring Hyderabad cricket back to life. Some of his key suggestions include:
A 3-Year Revival Plan
- Separate administration and cricketing operations
- Publish full calendars for all tournaments—and stick to them
- Revive the Telangana Premier League (TPL)
- Restart all junior and senior zonal tournaments
- Bring back the Moin-ud-Dowla Gold Cup
- Strengthen school and college-level cricket
- Create a formal pathway for district and lower-division talent
- Appoint selectors, coaches, and officials through a transparent, interview-based system
Out-of-the-Box Fixes
- Outsource the recruitment of selectors and coaches to a neutral third party
- Bar all individuals named in previous corruption reports from decision-making roles
- Include more ex-players (lifting arbitrary age limits if needed) with proven integrity
- Seek BCCI and even Supreme Court approval if necessary, to insulate reforms from internal sabotage
- Make the entire ecosystem result-oriented, not excuse-oriented
In an age when most voices in cricket administration are loud, self-congratulatory, or self-serving, Narendra Pal Singh is a breath of fresh air. He is not flashy. He has no political ambitions. And yet, he understands exactly what ails Hyderabad cricket and how to fix it.
Perhaps the sport needs fewer politicians and powerbrokers—and more honest workhorses like him.
If Hyderabad cricket is to be saved, voices like his must not only be heard but empowered.
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