Hyderabad: The Telangana Cricket Association (TCA) has expressed confidence that its long-pending demand for recognition and Full Membership of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) will ultimately be addressed, saying its optimism is rooted in its faith in the judiciary and the cricket board.
TCA General Secretary Dharam Guruva Reddy, in an official statement issued on Monday, said the association was looking ahead to another crucial hearing before the Bombay High Court, a court which, he recalled, had earlier directed the BCCI to consider TCA’s request for Associate or Full Membership in the context of concerns over the limited geographical reach of the Hyderabad Cricket Association (HCA).
“Yes, the time has come for reform, and reform has become imperative. That is why the TCA believes it deserves Full BCCI Membership,” Guruva Reddy said.
He said the administration of cricket in India rests on the principles of constitutional compliance, transparency, accountability and meritocracy. According to him, cricket administration in Telangana has, for several years, faced serious institutional and financial issues, along with alleged non-compliance with the BCCI Constitution and reforms mandated by the Supreme Court.
“The TCA stands ready as a constitutionally compliant alternative capable of bringing integrity, equity and structured development to cricket across Telangana,” he said.
HCA’s Record Under Question
Guruva Reddy said the TCA’s case was based on what it described as the legal framework governing BCCI membership and HCA’s continuing defaults.
Referring to Rule 3(b)(2) of the BCCI Constitution, he claimed that a Full Member Association that remains disentitled to financial grants for a continuous period of two years could face de-recognition, potentially creating an opportunity for a compliant association to be considered.
He pointed to the financial issues identified by the Justice (Retd.) Anil R. Dave Committee and the Supreme Court-appointed Single Member Committee headed by Justice (Retd.) L. Nageswara Rao, claiming that BCCI grants to HCA have remained withheld since 2017 amid unresolved accounts and alleged financial mismanagement.
He further alleged that HCA’s amended constitution, while claiming jurisdiction over the entire State of Telangana, had not translated into effective grassroots cricket development across the State.
“Full membership carries corresponding responsibilities. Telangana needs a cricket administration that reaches every district and provides opportunities to players beyond Hyderabad,” Guruva Reddy said.
He also alleged that HCA had failed to adopt and implement the BCCI Constitution in the manner prescribed by the governing framework.
Criminal Cases, Elections and Leagues
Guruva Reddy said the concerns raised by TCA were not merely administrative in nature, pointing to ongoing criminal investigations and judicial interventions involving HCA.
He referred to Crime No. 02/2025, registered by the Telangana State CID, and claimed that key HCA office-bearers had been arrested in connection with allegations including criminal breach of trust and diversion of funds. These matters, he said, underscored the need for closer scrutiny of the association’s governance.
He also alleged serious irregularities in the March 2026 HCA elections, including the creation of what he described as a duplicate or parallel society, “Oxford Blues Cricket Club”, allegedly to influence voting rights, as well as the participation of 57 clubs which TCA claims were disqualified.
On commercial cricket, Guruva Reddy alleged that HCA had conducted or proceeded with commercial structures without the requisite prior BCCI sanction. He cited the TG20 league as an example and claimed that such practices were inconsistent with the applicable BCCI rules.
TCA’s Constitutional Model
Guruva Reddy said the TCA, which was established more than a decade ago, had pursued its legal battle with what he described as documentary and institutional evidence, while seeking to protect the interests of cricket and cricketers across the newly formed State of Telangana.
“In contrast, TCA has built its framework around constitutional compliance, player representation, cooling-off provisions, tenure restrictions and independent institutional mechanisms such as an Ombudsman, Ethics Officer and Electoral Officer,” he claimed.
He said TCA’s principal strength was its representation of district-level cricket interests across Telangana.
“For decades, talent from rural and semi-urban Telangana has struggled to obtain adequate opportunities. A State-wide cricket administration must ensure that geography does not become a barrier to a young player’s aspirations,” he said.
Appeal to BCCI
Referring to the Supreme Court’s observations in BCCI v. Cricket Association of Bihar, Guruva Reddy said TCA had been permitted to place its representation before the appropriate authorities for consideration in accordance with law.
He said the provisions of the BCCI Constitution, including those relating to membership and continued eligibility, should be applied uniformly and transparently.
“The issue is not about one association versus another. It is about whether cricket administration in Telangana is serving the entire State and whether the principles governing BCCI membership are being applied consistently,” Guruva Reddy said.
He reiterated that TCA believed it had demonstrated its eligibility and constitutional preparedness to serve as a State-wide cricket body.
“Recognising TCA would not merely be an administrative change. It would provide an opportunity to strengthen grassroots cricket, expand the talent pool and create a more inclusive pathway for thousands of young cricketers across Telangana,” he concluded.
