Sack all Hyderabad Cricket Association selectors: Azhar

Hyderabad: Former Indian cricket captain Mohammad Azharuddin on Saturday demanded that the entire selection panel that has been constituted by the Hyderabad Cricket Association (HCA) be sacked immediately.

Launching a scathing attack against the ‘illegally constituted’ Association, Azharuddin, looking fit as ever, stated that the incumbent body, which is claiming to swear by the Lodha reforms has been making a mockery of the Supreme Court ruling in this regard as it was doing everything that was in violation of the Lodha and CoA recommendations.

Citing specific instances about the Association’s latest faux pas, Azharuddin stated that the Moin-Ud-Dowla Gold Cup, which appeared to be regaining its lost glory by the immediate earlier panel, seems to be touching the nadir.

For the records, the tournament, which was Hyderabad’s jewel in the crown, is heading to be a sham with the proposed 50-over format from this edition, which begins here on Tuesday.

Azharuddin spewed venom at the HCA administrators, whose selection panel has only one member who fits the Lodha bill. Blasting the squads named by the Association, he wondered how players with proven records were ignored while those who could never make it to the Ranji teams were being picked up.

Specifically targeting the Secretary, T Shesh Narayan for most of the ills besetting Hyderabad cricket, Azharuddin, whose candidature for the President’s post was thrown asunder, said that development of cricket seemed to be last on the minds of these self-styled promoters and administrators. It was at the behest of some ‘power hungry’ members that people who did not understand the basics of the game were getting clubs as rewards for favours granted.

Admitting that he had not met the CoA members, the former cricketer stated that he was sure that people like Vinod Rai were abreast with the criminal acts of the HCA.

He said that he was confident that justice would be rendered eventually and all the current manipulators and fraudulent ‘administrators’ would be shown their rightful place for having destroyed whatever remained of Hyderabad cricket.

Meanwhile, he was categorical that he would prefer to establish a place here and hopefully steer it around, once he gets an opportunity. As of now, there was nothing much people like him could do because the matter was sub-judice, he said.

Meanwhile, he said he welcomed if The Telangana Cricket Association is going about spotting talent in the districts and giving them platforms to parade them and rise up the ladder. He said such bodies should be encouraged because at the end of the day they are doing good for the growth of cricket in the State.