Our Correspondent
Hyderabad: In a move that has sent ripples through the already turbulent corridors of the Hyderabad Cricket Association (HCA), the ever-controversial yet unflinchingly vocal Shesh Narayan has thrown his hat into the ring for the president’s post—six months ahead of the elections.
Call him eccentric, call him a serial litigant, but ignore him at your own peril. Shesh has never been one to play safe, and his latest gambit only reinforces that reputation. At a time when most aspirants quietly lobby behind closed doors, he has chosen to go public—loudly, bluntly, and unapologetically.
In a strongly worded message circulated across official HCA affiliated groups, Shesh announced his intention to contest for the top post, urging members to introspect and decide whether they want continuity of chaos or a clean break from the past. His message was not just a candidature announcement—it was a scathing indictment of the current system.
Having been part of the HCA ecosystem for years, including a stint as Secretary during one of its most volatile phases, Shesh is no stranger to controversy. He has fought multiple legal battles against the establishment and continues to challenge what he describes as a deeply compromised system. His decision, he claims, stems from sheer frustration at “watching the ruins of the association from the sidelines.”
What makes his entry explosive is the timing. Declaring candidacy half a year in advance is almost unheard of in HCA politics, where secrecy and backroom deals are the norm. But Shesh appears to be playing a different game—one that thrives on early momentum and public accountability.
In his message, he took a direct swipe at the existing power structure, alleging that positions within the association are being “parachuted through money and muscle power,” with influential brokers manipulating outcomes. He warned that continued infighting among stakeholders has opened the door for “rank outsiders” with little cricketing background to occupy key posts.
Promising a complete overhaul, Shesh pitched himself as a champion of transparency and governance. He assured members of an “efficient and effective administration,” pointing to his track record as Chairman of Fateh Maidan Club, which he claims to have transformed into one of the premier cricketing institutions in the twin cities.
But perhaps the most striking part of his campaign pitch was his attack on the current administrative setup under court-appointed administrators. According to him, their functioning has eroded the “genuine rights of stakeholders,” reducing long-time contributors to “second-class citizens” in their own association.
Shesh’s call was clear—unity or irrelevance. He urged members to rise above factionalism and reclaim control of the association before it slips further into what he sees as administrative decay.
Whether this early declaration will galvanize support or trigger a counter-offensive from entrenched power centres remains to be seen. But one thing is certain: with Shesh Narayan entering the fray well ahead of schedule, the HCA election battle has already begun—and it promises to be anything but quiet.
