A Fight for the Soul of the Game: Why Revanth Reddy’s Crackdown Must Go All the Way
This is in continuation of my pursuit to expose who is responsible for ruining Hyderabad cricket—not just through corruption and incompetence, but by systematically dismantling an ecosystem that once produced legends, pride, and a legacy few cities in India could match.
In this part, I must appreciate the Telangana Police for finally stepping in and launching a probe into the affairs of the Hyderabad Cricket Association (HCA). The investigation, triggered by a complaint from the IPL franchise Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH), has shaken the long-untouched corridors of the HCA, where financial fraud and administrative decay have flourished for years.
Cricket lovers in Telangana have helplessly watched as HCA collapsed under the weight of scams, factionalism, and institutional rot. Once a proud nursery that regularly supplied talent to Team India, Hyderabad’s decline is now stark—symbolized by the Ranji team’s relegation to the Plate Division and a trail of financial scandals choking the game’s foundations.
Also read: https://orangenews9.com/who-ruined-hyderabad-cricket-part-xiv/
Yet, a sliver of hope has emerged—from an unexpected alliance of civic outrage, journalistic persistence, and, crucially, political will.
The Telangana Police’s move to investigate the HCA—based on SRH’s complaint against President Jaganmohan Rao—was catalyzed by the personal intervention of Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy. Taking cognizance of news reports, the Chief Minister ordered the Vigilance Enforcement Department to act. For this decisive step, he deserves full credit.
For too long, successive governments looked away—whether out of fear, complicity, or apathy. Scandals involving embezzlement, fake clubs, forged documents, and dubious construction deals piled up, but serious investigations never followed. Media reports were brushed aside, whistleblowers were silenced, and previous inquiries—including those by the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB), despite FIRs against 35–40 officials—fizzled into nothing.
That’s what makes this moment critical. The SRH complaint must be more than a trigger—it must be a launchpad for a deep, surgical probe into the full extent of the rot, past and present.
Also read: https://orangenews9.com/who-ruined-hyderabad-cricket-part-xiii/
At the heart of the corruption lies a racket involving over 230 “affiliated clubs”—many of them ghost entities, benami fronts, or personal businesses masquerading as cricket institutions. These clubs don’t nurture talent; they sell opportunity to the highest bidder.
Three-day token matches are staged to push undeserving players into state squads—players chosen not for talent but for cash. Meanwhile, deserving cricketers from districts are ignored. The result? A broken pipeline and a generation of disillusioned youth.
Even those who try to clean the system—honest committee members or newly nominated officials—face threats, blackmail, and defamation. The entrenched coterie that still controls HCA uses intimidation as its primary weapon.
Let’s be clear: this isn’t about one man or one post. While Jaganmohan Rao faces grave allegations, including forgery, the crisis is systemic. Former players-turned-administrators, once respected, have betrayed the trust of the cricketing community.
Also read: https://orangenews9.com/who-ruined-hyderabad-cricket-part-xii/
Stalwarts like VVS Laxman and Venkatapathy Rajju continue to inspire and remain untouched by the mess. But others—like Shivlal Yadav and Arshad Ayub—have squandered their goodwill. The so-called “Players’ Panel” turned out to be just another tool of manipulation, not reform.
And what of Mohammad Azharuddin? A genius on the field, his administrative innings with the HCA only deepened the damage. From being tainted by a match-fixing scandal to parachuting into HCA politics from a Lok Sabha seat in Uttar Pradesh, his trajectory is a tragic subplot in Hyderabad cricket’s unravelling.
Institutional teams—once the backbone of the city’s cricketing structure—have also been hijacked. Their affiliations were transferred not through merit or election, but through shady backdoor deals. These teams are now run as personal fiefdoms by greedy individuals, siphoning funds and stifling genuine talent.
The recent decision to disburse ₹6 lakh per club as “development funds” could’ve been a blessing. Instead, it risks becoming a slush fund for rogue secretaries. This must be scrutinized before the money disappears.
Even court-appointed panels haven’t escaped suspicion. While some members were sincere, serious questions remain, especially about the Supervisory Committee, once led by former Chief Justice N.A. Kakru. How did the same corrupt elements continue to thrive under judicial oversight? Who enabled them?
This probe must go beyond token action. It must cover everything—from past presidents and selectors to club officials and committee members. Anything less will be a farce.
As a journalist and lifelong lover of the game, I’ve endured threats, defamation, and smear campaigns. But I will not be silenced. I believe in truth, in public accountability, and in the agencies now moving to act. No responsible government or police force can ignore the mountain of evidence staring them in the face.
Once, Hyderabad stood shoulder to shoulder with Mumbai and Karnataka as a cricketing powerhouse. Its players were India regulars. Today, that legacy lies in shreds—not because of a lack of talent, but due to unchecked misgovernance and moral bankruptcy.
We must not squander this moment. Let the SRH complaint be a turning point, not another headline that fades.
Chief Minister Revanth Reddy has taken the first bold step. The onus is now on investigating agencies—to deliver justice, restore integrity, and revive the soul of Hyderabad cricket. (Watch this space. In the next part: How institutional teams were captured by power brokers and converted into private empires—all at the cost of the game we love.)
