In this second part of our investigation, we delve deeper into the murky world of the Hyderabad Cricket Association (HCA). Beyond the administrative facade lies a grim reality—where elections are battlegrounds of political intrigue, bribes dictate decisions, and the powerful exploit their influence to manipulate selectors. Our goal is to uncover how the rich and influential have turned HCA into a playground for personal agendas, sidelining the sport and its true champions. – Editor
HCA Scandal: Politicos and Veterans Exposed
Our Special Correspondent
Power plays, political meddling, and alleged bribery mar Hyderabad cricket as the Hyderabad Cricket Association (HCA) spirals into chaos.
As we dig deeper, HCA elections emerge as a battleground of cash, clout, and coercion. Politicians dictate terms, wealthy influencers pressurize selectors, and former Test cricketers fall in line, prioritizing favours over the game. The result? A shadowy nexus choking the very sport they claim to champion.
Hyderabad cricket is indeed in turmoil, and the rot runs deep. The Hyderabad Cricket Association (HCA), once a hub for nurturing talent and fostering the sport, has devolved into a battleground of political meddling, cash-for-favor scandals, and administrative decay. Elections are no longer fought on merit but with strategies rooted in bribes, clout, and coercion. Influential figures, from politics and cricket alike, wield their power with scant regard for the sanctity of the game.
At the center of this murky web are the member clubs, which have become pawns in the power struggle. The number of teams a member controls dictates its influence, and during elections, these rogue clubs reap the rewards. Their representatives, armed with voting rights, trade their allegiance for hefty sums, turning the election process into a lucrative livelihood while the sport takes a backseat.
Meanwhile, the HCA Joint Secretary Basavaraj finds himself in the eye of the storm. Accused of pressuring selectors to include players of his choice, Basavaraj categorically denies the charges, dismissing them as politically motivated. “I have nothing to hide,” he asserts, challenging his detractors to substantiate their claims.
In his defense, Basavaraj argues that seeking clarity from the court on potential changes is hardly contempt. “What’s wrong in seeking guidance?” he questions, brushing off the allegations as baseless.
Opponents claim he even lacks the eligibility to contest, having entered HCA through questionable backdoor means. Basavaraj counters: “I’m a bachelor, retired, and have no vested interests. What more proof do they need?”
The bigger scandal lies in political interference. Sources allege that senior politicians, from the current and past governments, exert pressure to place their loyalists in key HCA roles. Former Test cricketers, once paragons of the sport, are reportedly complicit, endorsing politically favoured candidates over the game’s interests. The result is a president beholden to political diktats and a governing body crippled by factionalism.
Even the new government hasn’t stepped back. Allegations suggest the Chief Minister’s Office recently pressured HCA’s Secretary to accommodate their chosen players. This meddling highlights the destructive nexus between politics and cricket—a nexus fuelled by power, control, and access to resources.
The HCA was once a beacon of excellence, producing cricketing legends under the astute leadership of administrators like PR Mansingh. However, cracks began to show after the infamous ‘tracksuit’ episode, were players, sidelined for trivial reasons, retaliated by creating factions. Corruption seeped into every corner, from team selections to infrastructure projects, leaving the sport in tatters.
Today, Hyderabad cricket clings to faint hopes of redemption. Players like Mohammed Siraj and Tilak Varma, besides Nitish Reddy succeeded despite—not because of—the HCA. Their rise owes more to the IPL than any local support.
Only an intervention by the Supreme Court can rescue Hyderabad cricket. The need for honest, credible leaders who prioritize the sport over personal gain has never been greater. Without decisive action, Hyderabad’s rich cricketing legacy may soon fade into obscurity. (To be concluded)
