Hyderabad, Aug 26: The Telangana Cricket Association (TCA) has renewed its appeal to the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) to consider its request for Associate Membership at the BCCI Annual General Meeting (AGM) scheduled for September 18, alongside the reported proposal concerning the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
Welcoming reports that the BCCI is set to consider the Andaman and Nicobar Islands’ request, TCA General Secretary Dharam Guruva Reddy said extending Associate Membership would help take organised cricket to newer and emerging territories.
“We welcome every initiative that takes cricket to newer horizons. But the same principle must also apply to Telangana. TCA has been pursuing Associate Membership for several years and we once again appeal to the BCCI to consider our request on the same footing,” he said.
Reddy said the TCA had also approached the Bombay High Court in connection with its membership request and claimed that the court had directed the BCCI to consider the association’s plea. He said the matter was presently pending before the Supreme Court and the Bombay High Court, while maintaining that the TCA’s request remained before the BCCI for consideration.
He also recalled that the BCCI had earlier advised the Hyderabad Cricket Association (HCA) to work with the TCA to promote cricket in rural Telangana.
“The BCCI had shown the right intent by asking the HCA to work with TCA. Unfortunately, the initiative was not pursued by the then HCA president, who is now a Minister in the Revanth Reddy Cabinet. The then HCA Secretary, however, did hold several rounds of discussions with TCA,” he said.
The TCA also pointed to the growing demand for greater representation in domestic cricket in larger States. Referring to recent reports of protests at the Lucknow cricket stadium seeking additional Ranji Trophy teams, Reddy said the situation highlighted the need to create more opportunities for players in geographically vast and heavily populated regions.
“Even Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has expressed his desire for multiple cricket associations to represent different parts of the State. If decentralisation is being seriously considered elsewhere, Telangana too deserves a fair and transparent opportunity,” he said.
Reddy said the TCA would shortly send another formal communication to the BCCI urging it to place the Associate Membership issue before the September 18 AGM.
“We sincerely hope the BCCI will consider our request objectively and in the larger interest of Telangana cricket. This is not merely an organisational demand; it is about creating more pathways for thousands of talented cricketers across the State,” he added.
