Arshad Ayub: From Test Cricketer to Alleged Architect of Corruption
MS Shanker
(Editor’s Note: Following receipt of a legal notice from former Indian Test cricketer and ex-HCA President Arshad Ayub, this article has been revised. Certain portions have been removed or modified to avoid misinterpretation. A corrigendum has also been issued immediately after receipt of the notice. As a journalist of over four decades, with an unblemished record, I remain committed to exposing the decline of Hyderabad cricket’s administration while respecting the principles of responsible journalism. – EDITOR)
In the long and tragic chronicle of Hyderabad cricket’s administrative collapse, one name repeatedly surfaces in public discourse—not only for his past contributions as a Test off-spinner, but also for the controversies that surrounded his tenure as Vice President and later President of the Hyderabad Cricket Association (HCA): Arshad Ayub.
Ayub’s period at the helm was widely criticized as a turning point for the HCA—marked by allegations of misappropriation, irregular contracts, and questionable governance practices. His tenure is often cited in complaints and reports as an example of how cricket boards can be reduced to personal power centres.
According to complaints submitted to the police and HCA insiders, irregularities surfaced in connection with the canopy structure project at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium, Uppal. The allegations suggested inflated bills and procedural violations in clearing payments.
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This issue culminated in the filing of a complaint by senior HCA member T. Sheshanarayan, based on which Hyderabad police registered a case against Ayub and six other officials. The FIR invoked IPC Sections 403, 406 and 415, citing alleged irregularities causing losses of around ₹120 crore to the HCA. The complaint alleged fudging of accounts, manipulation of tenders, and collusion with auditors during 2014–16.
Another contentious issue during Ayub’s tenure was the termination of the stadium patron agreement with Visakha Industries, which had contributed ₹4 crore for the construction of the Uppal stadium. The termination prompted legal proceedings, with Visakha Industries seeking compensation.
Reports suggest that the liability, due to prolonged litigation, has now escalated to over ₹60 crore after court rulings went against the HCA. The matter has been described in court documents and public reports as a major financial blow to the association.
In November 2016, Justice B. Siva Sankara Rao of the Telangana High Court, in civil revision petitions filed by Sheshanarayan and Prakash Chand Jain, criticized the HCA’s functioning. The ruling mentioned “institutional bias and procedural fraud,” particularly questioning the reconstitution of the disciplinary committee under Ayub and then-Secretary John Manoj.
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The judgment described the actions as a “travesty and miscarriage of justice,” highlighting deep structural flaws within the HCA.
Despite the FIRs, litigation, and adverse judicial remarks, no significant progress has been made in investigations. This has reinforced the public perception of weak accountability within Indian cricket administration.
Under Ayub’s leadership, the HCA is widely perceived to have suffered financially and reputationally. Domestic cricket stagnated, sponsorships declined, and internal politics became toxic. Critics allege that even after his official tenure, Ayub continues to wield influence within the HCA through affiliated clubs and election manoeuvres.
If former administrator Shivlal Yadav became symbolic of the HCA’s long institutional decline, critics argue that Ayub’s tenure, too, contributed significantly to Hyderabad cricket’s downfall.
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Investigative agencies and cricketing authorities must ensure transparent accountability—not just to assess past financial damage, but also to protect Hyderabad’s cricketing future from recurring mismanagement.
Arshad Ayub’s legacy as a Test cricketer remains part of India’s cricketing history. But in Hyderabad cricket administration, his name continues to be associated with controversies, litigation, and unresolved allegations that demand independent scrutiny.
Also read: https://orangenews9.com/who-ruined-hyderabad-cricket-part-xiv/
Also read: https://orangenews9.com/who-ruined-hyderabad-cricket-part-xiii/
