Special Correspondent
The Hyderabad Cricket Association (HCA), already reeling from years of mismanagement and legal battles, has once again tripped over its own contradictions. In yet another bewildering move, the truncated apex council of HCA released a self-congratulatory press statement on Wednesday, claiming “vindication” after the Telangana High Court refused to grant relief to some banned players who had been included in Hyderabad’s U-19 squad for the Vinoo Mankad Trophy in Dehradun.
The statement boasts that HCA’s “consistent stand” on discipline and regulatory compliance has been upheld. But the truth is far murkier. If hypocrisy could be an Olympic sport, the HCA would walk away with gold.
Let’s call it what it is — a blatant case of selective morality. The same HCA that now flaunts its supposed respect for the law had no qualms about quietly reinstating several banned players not long ago. The press release conveniently forgets that six of those very players, including the in-form Chirag Yadav, were allowed to represent the state — only to be re-banned now after the court refuses to entertain a petition (W.P. No. 3239 of 2025 filed by Gone Prem).
If this is not an administrative farce, what is?
The statement’s moral posturing about “transparency, integrity, and accountability” rings hollow when one remembers how freely the association has bent rules to accommodate those close to its current power centre.
So, is age fraud acceptable when it suits certain factions? Or is it punished only when it hurts their interests?
Age manipulation has been a festering wound in Hyderabad cricket for years. The HCA had earlier released a list of 38 players suspected of submitting fraudulent age certificates. It even barred them from league matches pending verification. But soon after, the script changed dramatically.
One of the players moved court and was granted temporary relief to play a local T20 tournament. The order was narrow and specific — but HCA cynically stretched its interpretation to clear nearly 15 players close to its leadership, citing the same judgment.
The circular itself limited the relief only to the T20 event. Yet, those players were allowed to continue representing Hyderabad — without any fresh inquiry. Notable among them were Ranji player Punniah and U-23 cricketers Dheeraj and Dinesh Rathod, all of whom still play under the association’s watch.
Photo caption: This certificate does not match Gone’s original certificate.
When another group of players challenged their bans, the High Court found fault with HCA’s method of verifying Aadhar-linked OTPs — a procedural lapse under BCCI guidelines — but did not exonerate anyone of age fraud. Even so, HCA used that verdict as a pretext to drop the inquiry entirely.
In short, when court orders suited them, HCA embraced them. When they didn’t, the council rediscovered its commitment to “discipline.”
The latest case of Gone Prem is a textbook example of how HCA’s arbitrary actions crush young careers. Despite performing consistently in the U-19 setup, he was re-banned after the court declined relief — not because his guilt was proven, but because HCA failed to mount an effective defense. The pattern is all too familiar: selective enforcement, weak representation, and deliberate omission of names close to the current brass in lists sent to the BCCI. Some players continue to represent HCA in the BCCI tournaments without being banned in spite of age fraud, as these names were officially notified.
The association, despite being repeatedly pulled up in court, has never released a revised or conclusive report on the original 38-player list. Parents, players, and coaches remain in the dark. Careers hang in limbo, while the HCA’s opaque committees thrive in confusion.
In other words, transparency, evidently, is not HCA’s strong suit — only public posturing is.
There’s a growing perception that the current HCA administration has deliberately stalled the investigation to both settle scores with the previous regime and shield its own supporters. Having come to power through a truncated apex council after the disqualification of key members, the new leadership appears more interested in political maneuvering than cricket administration.
The inquiry into age fraud has been quietly buried, while those favoured continue to play — and those inconveniently honest are left fighting shadows.
If HCA genuinely wants to restore credibility, it must do one simple thing: release a transparent, evidence-backed report on the 38 players originally flagged, along with the findings of all inquiries and the current status of each case.
Adding insult to injury, reports suggest that the same apex council has now scrapped air travel for Hyderabad’s Ranji players. After dropping its earlier travel agent, the association forced players to travel from Pondicherry to Chennai and onward to North India — not by air, but by buses and trains.
This is not just penny-pinching; it’s sheer disrespect for state players representing Hyderabad in national tournaments. The very players who sacrifice everything for their careers are being treated as expendable logistics, while the administrators wallow in perks.
At this point, Hyderabad cricket is not being run by administrators — it is being manipulated by power brokers. Court orders are selectively quoted, rules are applied according to convenience, and the very spirit of fairness is mocked.
The HCA’s latest move is not an act of governance. It is a confession of chaos — proof that the association, once home to cricketing greats, now runs on factional bias, procedural blunders, and administrative vanity.
The court may have spoken. But the people of Hyderabad deserve to ask: when will cricket be freed from HCA’s politics?
