Vanka Pratap: A Voice from the Inside
MS Shanker
In the continuing series on resurrecting Hyderabad cricket, we turn the spotlight this week on former Ranji all-rounder and one of the more vocal figures in the Hyderabad Cricket Association (HCA) ecosystem—Vanka Pratap. A gritty cricketer-turned-administrator, Pratap is no stranger to the political undercurrents of Hyderabad cricket. Often envied and occasionally targeted by his detractors, he has always been known for his sharp cricketing brain, street-smart instincts, and the ability to turn the tide when needed.
Born out of Hyderabad’s school cricket system, Vanka Pratap rose through the ranks—starting from the state schools team to the Under-19 level—before making his Ranji Trophy debut in the 1990–91 season. Over a decade-long career, he played 83 First-Class and 49 List A matches, amassing over 4,000 First-Class runs and 1,000 List A runs, while also claiming 66 wickets across formats.
Pratap represented teams such as South Zone, Board President’s XI, India XI, and Wills XI. He holds a unique and enviable distinction: he captained a junior-level national side that featured future legends like Sourav Ganguly, Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid, Anil Kumble, and VVS Laxman—all under his leadership. Another personal highlight he still cherishes is winning the “Britannia Best Player of the Year” award in the United Kingdom.
Unfortunately, his promising career came to an abrupt end in December 2001, at the age of just 28.
In 2003, just two years after retirement, Pratap stirred the cricketing establishment by claiming that he was asked to pay a bribe to a selector through an intermediary to secure a spot in the Indian national team. The allegation shook the system, though it eventually faded without a serious investigation. Despite that episode, Pratap continued to remain involved with the HCA in various administrative roles—as a Ranji selector, chairman of the junior selection committee, and eventually Director of the HCA Academy, succeeding Test cricketer M.V. Narasimha Rao in 2017, under the presidency of Mohammad Azharuddin.
Yet, his playing days weren’t without baffling moments. “I was stunned when I was dropped after a five-wicket haul against Tamil Nadu,” he recalls. “The explanation? I wasn’t considered a frontline bowler.” This paradox was emblematic of the inconsistencies that plagued Hyderabad’s cricketing ecosystem then—and sadly, still do today.
Pratap is candid about the current state of cricket in Telangana. “Let’s be honest, the players themselves must share part of the blame,” he says, pointing to a lack of unity, coordination, and egos that have stifled progress. While acknowledging that corruption and favoritism may be difficult to prove, he doesn’t dismiss them either. “During my tenure as a selector, I wasn’t privy to it directly, but the patterns in team selections do raise questions,” he admits.
His sharpest criticism, however, is reserved for HCA’s crumbling administrative structure. “Talented players are simply not getting enough match practice. League cricket—the very soul of Hyderabad’s talent production—is in shambles. We need to bring back the traditional league system and ensure regular, competitive tournaments that can sharpen players for the next level.”
When asked about conflict of interest issues and the undue influence of club secretaries, Pratap offers a pragmatic view. “Instead of complaining about past office-bearers—many of whom were cricketers themselves—it’s time we take collective responsibility. Pointing fingers hasn’t helped; rebuilding the system might.”
He criticizes the half-hearted implementation of the Lodha Committee reforms and the failure of the Supreme Court-appointed Ombudsman, who, he alleges, acted on the advice of a few bureaucrats without involving all stakeholders. While he stops short of calling all decisions flawed, he sees them as missteps in a process meant to clean up the game.
Looking ahead, Pratap echoes the sentiment of many in the cricketing community who feel the judiciary must step in decisively. “The Supreme Court should consider appointing a special committee—comprising a sitting judge, two senior bureaucrats, and four upright cricketers—with a clear three-year mandate to clean up HCA. Elections should be put on hold during this period,” he suggests.
The rot in Hyderabad cricket runs deep, but voices like Pratap’s offer a rare mix of experience, candour, and commitment. Reviving Hyderabad’s lost cricketing glory will require more than just talent—it demands transparency, unity, and the political will to let cricket, not cronies, win.
