When I began writing this column, my purpose was never personal. It was — and remains — to highlight the persistent injustices faced by aspiring cricketers from the rural and semi-urban districts of our young Telangana state.
Ten years have passed since Telangana was formed, yet our boys continue to be treated as outsiders on their own soil.
The latest selections for the Under-19 and Under-23 state teams have left me deeply disturbed. As usual, players from Telangana districts have been ignored — yet again. This continues to happen despite repeated court orders directing the Hyderabad Cricket Association (HCA) to ensure fairness, and despite reminders from the BCCI itself. If this isn’t the height of arrogance by the HCA, then what is?
This is not a one-off incident. It is part of a deeply entrenched pattern that has been allowed to fester for decades.
Except for an occasional name here or there — players who could afford to sacrifice time, sell family property, or bear heavy expenses — cricketers from the heartland of Telangana have been systematically sidelined. The system is so skewed that even the most talented youngsters from the hinterland stand no chance — not because they lack ability, but because they lack “connections.”
What makes matters worse is the manner in which selections are being conducted. In recent months, several parents from various districts have called me — some met me personally, and others have even approached the High Court — alleging bias and manipulation in team selections. One parent said his son, who had performed brilliantly in selection matches and league games, was not even included in the list of 30 probables, let alone the final squad.
This raises a fundamental question: what criteria does HCA actually follow to identify genuine talent? If performance in the leagues is the main criterion, how can the HCA justify selecting teams before conducting full-fledged league tournaments? Under which provision — and for what purpose — are leagues conducted after state teams are already chosen?
Moreover, if the HCA cannot ensure an open and transparent selection process through properly held leagues followed by a zonal system, how can the shortlisting of 30 probables be called “transparent”? When the foundational leagues themselves are incomplete, what other mysterious parameters are being used for selection?
If someone asks me to rate the integrity of HCA bosses, my answer would be simple — on a scale of 1 to 10, HCA firmly lies at 1.
Reports in sections of the media have also alleged age fraud and other irregularities in the trials. Shockingly, all this is happening under the very watch of the High Court-appointed Supervisory Committee headed by Justice Naveen Rao. It pains me to see that even judicial oversight has failed to restore credibility or fairness in the HCA’s functioning.
I do not wish to dwell endlessly on the rot within the HCA — that is for the courts to decide. But as Secretary of the Telangana Cricket Association (TCA), I cannot stay silent when our youth are denied opportunities year after year.
The sad reality is that non-locals and settlers from coastal Andhra continue to dominate Hyderabad cricket administration, manipulating the system to their advantage. For them, Telangana is merely a territory to control — not a state to develop. And as long as this continues, genuine local talent will remain buried under politics and favoritism.
For years, the Telangana Cricket Association has appealed to the BCCI to grant us Associate Membership — even without voting rights, at least for an initial two-year period. Our only objective is to create a level playing field for every youngster across Telangana’s 33 districts.
This demand is not an emotional outburst; it is grounded in both logic and law. The Supreme Court has, in earlier judgments, emphasized the need to democratize cricket administration and prevent monopolies by entrenched associations. Our case perfectly fits that principle.
In the past few years, the TCA has made remarkable progress. We have organized inter-district tournaments, T20 championships, and grassroots development programs. We are investing in infrastructure, grounds, coaching centers, and formal leagues. Wherever we go — whether in Adilabad or Mahabubnagar — we find passionate youngsters hungry to prove themselves. All they need is a fair chance.
We are not seeking power; we are seeking recognition. Even a limited associate status will help us nurture talent that has long been ignored by HCA’s closed circle. I firmly believe Telangana has the potential to produce many more Test and T20 stars — provided we open the door to them.
It is time for the BCCI to act decisively. The credibility of Indian cricket depends not only on its world-class players but also on how fairly it treats its aspiring ones. Telangana deserves that fairness.
Our boys have waited long enough. The future of Telangana cricket cannot be held hostage to the politics of one association.
Let the game belong to all of Telangana — not just Hyderabad.
