Our Correspondent
While the Hyderabad Cricket Association (HCA) continues to be embroiled in governance-related controversies, the Telangana Cricket Association (TCA) has begun putting its long-delayed plans into action, focusing squarely on grassroots development and the identification of rural cricketing talent across the state.
In line with a directive issued earlier by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), the TCA has initiated steps to work alongside the HCA in promoting the game, particularly in districts outside Hyderabad. The BCCI directive followed a prolonged legal battle spanning more than a decade, during which multiple High Courts and the Supreme Court delivered verdicts recognising TCA’s role and directing that it be accommodated within Telangana’s cricketing framework.
Judicial observations over the years had consistently emphasised the need for HCA—often described in court proceedings as being mired in legal disputes—to restrict its primary activities to urban centres, while allowing the TCA to independently nurture talent in rural and district regions. Despite limited resources and operating largely through personal contributions from a few committed individuals, the TCA has continued its work quietly, with the long-term goal of seeing its identified players progress through state age-group teams, from Under-12 to Under-23 levels.
Officials associated with the TCA, especially its founder and general secretary, Dharam Guruva Reddy, now appears to have recalibrated their approach. Rather than limiting their role to conducting coaching camps, building basic infrastructure, or organising tournaments, the association has begun formally scouting players based on performance, shortlisting them, and forwarding their names to the HCA for consideration—precisely as envisaged under the BCCI directive. Observers note that this documented, performance-based process strengthens TCA’s position should recommended players be overlooked.
Critics have long accused the HCA of failing to seriously accommodate talented players from the districts, alleging that merit often took a back seat to other considerations. These concerns, they argue, have persisted despite the intervention of the Supreme Court and High Court, which led to the appointment of ombudsmen and a supervisory committee to clean up governance within the association.
Against this backdrop, the TCA’s Telangana Gold Cup 2025–26 East Zone League has already thrown up several promising performers, described by officials as “raw diamonds” deserving closer attention:
- Shashank Kashyap (Hanumakonda): A left-handed opening batsman, Kashyap earned selection to the Kakatiya Kings Super League Zonal Team. He impressed with scores of 60 and 90 in the semifinals and followed it up with an unbeaten 101 in the final.
- Imran Shaik (Khammam): An all-rounder representing Khammam Lions, Shaik delivered match-winning performances through the league stage and semifinals. His early dismissal in the final proved a major setback for his team.
- M. Pavan: Despite his short stature, Pavan stood out as a dynamic top-order batsman with an array of strokes. His standout innings came while chasing 230 against Hanumakonda, when he smashed 115, including eight fours and ten sixes—an effort that, though not enough to secure victory, won widespread appreciation from spectators and experts alike.
As the season progresses, the spotlight is likely to remain on whether the HCA meaningfully engages with the TCA’s recommendations, and whether the BCCI’s directive translates into genuine opportunities for talent emerging from Telangana’s districts.
