MS Shanker
Hyderabad cricket, for long defined by turmoil in its association and decline on the field, is showing signs of revival. The state team’s strong run in the ongoing Butchi Babu tournament — two convincing wins and a firm grip on a semifinal berth — has sparked rare optimism. For a side that once produced legends but has since been mired in inconsistency, politics, and administrative decay, these victories are welcome.
But the celebrations come with a shadow. Beneath the players’ resurgence lie the same old fissures in the Hyderabad Cricket Association (HCA): a truncated apex council, allegations of conflict of interest, and questions over the supervisory authority’s silence.
Much of the credit for Hyderabad’s on-field improvement belongs to the Senior Selection Committee led by P. Hari Mohan with Narender Pal Singh, Jyothi Prakash Shetty, Shaik Riazuddin, and Md. Mohiuddin. Appointed on June 28, 2023, by Justice Lavu Nageswara Rao, the committee’s mandate was clear: arrest the slide after the Ranji team’s relegation to the Plate Division and chart a return to the Elite group.
The selectors adopted a performance-driven, transparent approach — prioritising merit over influence. Otherwise, players focused. The results followed. Hyderabad clinched the Plate championship to secure Elite promotion, powered by Tanmay Agarwal’s record-breaking 765 runs, Rahul Singh’s 694 runs, and Tanay Thyagarajan’s 56 wickets.
The other tournaments, too, reflected steady progress:
- Vijay Hazare Trophy 2023–24: Finished 4th in the group, upsetting stronger sides like Vidarbha and Jharkhand.
- Syed Mushtaq Ali T20: Narrowly missed knockouts on net run rate despite tying with Mumbai on wins. Tilak Varma’s century and Ravi Teja’s 19 wickets were standouts.
- Col. C.K. Nayudu U-25: Himateja (851 runs) led a strong batting line-up, while Nitin Sai Yadav (32 wickets) spearheaded the bowling.
- U-23 State A One-Day: Beat eventual champions Karnataka, finishing 3rd in the group.
Observers note that for the first time in years, Hyderabad’s teams are being picked on performance, not pressure.
Not every decision, however, has been welcomed. The hiring of former India pacer Venkatesh Prasad as Consultant (or Super Boss) at a reported hefty fee has triggered unease. Hyderabad, once home to world-class players and coaches, is now looking outside for leadership has been read as another sign of a creeping “pay-to-play” culture.
While the selectors worked, the apex council unravelled. With President Jaganmohan Rao, Secretary Devraj Ramchander, and Treasurer Srinivas sidelined, the council is reduced to Acting President Daljit Singh, Joint Secretary Basavaraju, and one other member. Insiders allege the truncated body has been marked by infighting and meddling in team matters.
Basavaraju, in particular, has drawn criticism for restricting selectors from travelling to matches — a move widely seen as obstructive. His elevation itself has been questioned, with critics pointing to alleged conflict-of-interest breaches and political manoeuvring through associates controlling multiple clubs.
Daljit Singh, too, is no stranger to controversy, being linked with two clubs. His survival in office despite the conflict-of-interest purge that earlier disqualified 57 secretaries has only added to suspicions of selective enforcement.
The High Court’s supervisory authority is now under scrutiny. Justice Naveen Rao, tasked with overseeing HCA’s functioning, has so far offered little clarity despite repeated complaints from clubs. The apex council has even called for a Special General Body Meeting (SGM) on September 14, whose very legality is being challenged in court.
Critics argue that unless the supervisory mechanism asserts itself, it risks losing credibility altogether. The immediate demand from stakeholders is clear: the High Court must restrain unilateral decision-making by the truncated council and enforce accountability across the board.
On the field, Hyderabad’s players are doing their best to silence the noise. But victories cannot disguise the structural decay. Unless the governance vacuum is addressed and the association is pulled out of perpetual crisis, today’s revival may prove only another false dawn.
Hyderabad cricket, once synonymous with grace and grit, is at a crossroads. The players are ready. The question is: are the administrators?
