Club Secretaries Hold the Key
MS Shanker
In the past few weeks, I have been reaching out to those who matter most in Hyderabad cricket—not just former players, administrators, or politicians, but the men at the grassroots who truly decide the direction of the game: the club secretaries. With 216 affiliated clubs forming the electoral backbone of the Hyderabad Cricket Association (HCA), they are the ones who can either bring change or perpetuate decay.
After my conversation with D. Kishen Rao of Navjeevan Cricket Club last week, I turned this week to an outspoken yet pragmatic voice: Gerard Carr, Secretary of Sacred Heart Cricket Club. Known for his forthrightness, but also for his ability to forgive and move forward, Gerard has spent decades around the game—not just as a player, but as a club official, liaison officer, and volunteer in various HCA roles.
Cricket, he says, runs in his blood. His younger brother, Noel Carr, played for Hyderabad Under-19 alongside stars like Jyothi Prasad. Yet, rather than dwelling on nostalgia, Gerard prefers to look ahead. “It’s no point looking back,” he says, “but we must ensure that the mistakes of past Apex Councils are never repeated.”
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Having seen the HCA in both its “no money” days and its current “flush with money” era, Gerard is blunt: money has corrupted many. Instead of serving the game, too many administrators have chased personal gain. “Unfortunately, some of the very ex-cricketers who should have safeguarded the institution must share the blame for the present mess,” he notes.
Yet he is not a pessimist. His optimism is rooted in a simple fact: Hyderabad is not short of cricketing talent. What is missing is an ecosystem that rewards merit over money. “The pay-to-play culture must end. Selection should return to being about merit. The club secretaries have a responsibility to elect administrators who are not greedy, but genuinely committed to promoting the game.”
Roadmap for Revival
Gerard lays out a series of suggestions—practical, not utopian—that could restore Hyderabad’s standing as a cricketing hub:
- Invest in Infrastructure Across Districts: Use BCCI funds judiciously to build facilities beyond Hyderabad. District cricket should be the nursery where talent is scouted and nurtured.
- Establish Zonal Academies of Excellence: Dedicated academies can fine-tune young talent, ensuring that promising players from U-19 upwards are systematically prepared for higher levels.
- Mini-Stadiums with World-Class Standards: Hyderabad’s size and passion justify multiple small stadiums with modern infrastructure, helping players acclimatize to top-class conditions before they step onto national and global stages.
- Structured League Calendar: A meticulously planned league season must finish on time, allowing for specialized coaching camps that focus on both mental and physical conditioning.
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- Corporate Cup for Industry Engagement: With Hyderabad now an IT and pharma hub, corporate tournaments can both promote the game and attract much-needed sponsorships.
- Greater Role for Club Secretaries: Involving club secretaries in planning and execution will widen participation and reduce the monopoly of a select few.
- More Practice Pitches: Dedicated pitches catering to both batters and bowlers are essential for balanced grooming.
- Grading and Stipends for Young Players: A transparent, merit-based stipend system for U-19, U-25 & Sr players can ease financial burdens, motivate talent, and foster healthy competition.
- Honest Ethics Oversight: An Ethics Officer exists in theory, but unless the role is performed with integrity, corruption and favouritism will persist.
- Combat Drug Misuse: A committee should be established to investigate drug abuse in local cricket, with frequent dope tests to maintain discipline and credibility.
Gerard’s point is simple: none of these measures is impossible if there is honesty at the ballot box when club secretaries elect the Apex Council. Every suggestion carries a win-win logic—better infrastructure for players, structured opportunities for talent, corporate backing for the association, and fair compensation for those who genuinely contribute.
What Hyderabad cricket needs is not another round of self-serving administrators, but people who treat cricket as a trust, not a business. Gerard’s vision is practical, his tone is hopeful, and his message is unmistakable: the revival of Hyderabad cricket depends on the choices of the 216 affiliated clubs.
If those choices are guided by honesty and commitment to the game, Hyderabad can reclaim its lost glory. The responsibility now lies not with politicians or power brokers, but with the very custodians of cricket at the grassroots—the club secretaries themselves.
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