MS Shanker
Last week, we discussed aspects of graft, nepotism, and the failure of investigative agencies to act against office-bearers, including former cricketers. The author has received unprecedented appreciation and support from all sections, and everyone connected with cricket is eager to share their experiences. While each of them has a different story to tell, one common thread that runs through them all is nepotism and the personal interests of administrators in promoting their kin, a practice that has not spared even the former cricket icon, ML Jaisimha. In the past, Hyderabad cricket flourished under administrators like Ghulam Ahmed and PR Mansingh.
However, the rot began when governance fell into the hands of self-serving individuals prioritizing personal interests over merit. One of the major allegations against Hyderabad cricket administrators has been nepotism. While ML Jaisimha’s sons, Vivek and Vidyuth, reportedly earned their places on merit, Jaisimha himself faced accusations of sidelining talented players like Maheshwar Singh for reasons known only to him. Despite this, Jaisimha played a key role in nurturing young talent, helping players like K. Sainath rise to prominence. His Secunderabad XI, featuring emerging players such as Vijay Paul, Nagesh Hammond, Naushir Mehta, Maheshwar Singh, Jyothi Prasad, K. Sainath, and Prahlad, frequently challenged the star-studded Hyderabad team led by Abid Ali, proving that merit could triumph over reputation.
In contrast, the current selection process is marred by corruption. Today, the selection process is influenced more by political pressure and financial transactions than by genuine talent. The golden era, where players like Pataudi, Abid Ali, Abbas Ali Baig, Jayanthilal, Govindraj and Krishnamurthy were selected to the national side purely on the basis of skill, is now a thing of the past.
Hyderabad’s last moment of Ranji Trophy glory came in 1986-87 under MV Narasimha Rao’s captaincy. However, even that victory was not free from controversy. Arshad Ayub, who left the Hyderabad side to play for India, staked his claim for captaincy on his return, but Rao, reportedly with political backing from former Chief Minister NT Rama Rao, ensured he retained the captaincy. Nevertheless, Hyderabad lifted the trophy for the first time in independent India, and the team also won the Irani Cup that year. Selectors like Maheshwar Singh, Lokender Raj, B Mohan, and Durga Prasad played a crucial role in shaping that winning squad.
Since then, however, Hyderabad cricket has been on a downward spiral. The club politics that began during Shivlal Yadav’s tenure as HCA Secretary exacerbated the decline. Allegations surfaced that Yadav attempted to push his brother into the team while also yielding to political pressures. The administrative decay worsened with the construction of the Rajiv Gandhi Stadium, where financial irregularities were suspected, particularly involving former Union Minister G Venkatswamy’s son, G Vinod, through their company Visakha Industries.
Hyderabad’s domestic cricket tournaments, once breeding grounds for future stars, have been severely affected. The marginalization of the traditional zonal competitions and school and college tournaments have hurt grassroots cricket. Previously, tournaments like the Mono Trophy and Junior and Senior Zonals provided opportunities for budding cricketers. Today, these pathways are nearly non-existent.
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The biggest blow, however, was dealt by the commercialization of the selection process. Reports suggest that players now face a ‘price tag’ to make it to state teams, starting from under-16 to under-22 levels. This has led to a situation where merit is no longer the primary criterion, and deserving cricketers are sidelined in favour of those who can afford to buy their way in.
While some bureaucrats have misused their influence to push their children into the team, others have made significant contributions to Hyderabad cricket. One such figure is LV Subramaniam, former Chief Secretary of Andhra Pradesh and a passionate cricket enthusiast. As Vice Chairman and Managing Director of the Sports Authority of Andhra Pradesh in the undivided state, he played a crucial role in restoring Hyderabad’s reputation as a premier cricketing venue.
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Following the disastrous conduct of an ICC match at LB Stadium, an inquiry led by Ranjan Madugula delivered a damning report, holding HCA officials responsible for the mismanagement. There was a real threat that Hyderabad would lose its status as a host for international matches. It was at this critical juncture that HCA officials, including then-Secretary Shivlal Yadav (if memory serves correctly), approached Subramaniam for intervention.
Taking up the challenge as MD of SAAP, Subramaniam spearheaded a transformation of the stadium. Within a short period, he oversaw improvements to the pitch, outfield, dressing rooms, media center, scoreboard, floodlights, and ticketing system. He also eliminated temporary stands that extended dangerously close to the boundary lines. To combat the menace of bogus tickets, he counter-signed all tickets alongside an HCA nominee.
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His efforts bore fruit when Hyderabad successfully hosted a first-class match between India and New Zealand, marking a significant revival. India won, and in many ways, so did Hyderabad, reaffirming its place in cricket’s rich tradition. As Subramaniam humbly put it, “My small contribution helped restore Hyderabad’s status as a cricketing Mecca.”
Despite such individual efforts, the broader issues of political interference and administrative decay continue to plague Hyderabad cricket. Without structural reforms, transparency in selection, and a renewed commitment to grassroots development, its glorious legacy will remain a thing of the past.
However, the decline of Hyderabad cricket later is a cautionary tale of what happens when politics and personal interests infiltrate sports administration. Reviving the sport requires a fundamental shift in governance, transparency in selection processes, and a commitment to grassroots development. Without these reforms, Hyderabad’s rich cricketing legacy will continue to fade, leaving behind only memories of its glorious past. (To be concluded)
Also read: https://orangenews9.com/who-ruined-hyderabad-cricket/
