Bobjee is HCA director

Modireddy Venkat Narasimha Rao more popularly known as Bobjee will be the Director of Hyderabad Cricket Association (HCA). Taking a cue from the precedent set by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), the HCA has appointed the former Test player as its director for all on-field cricket related activities.

Rao gave his official consent for the new assignment after a ‘fruitful’ meeting with the Association President and Secretary Arshad Ayub and John Manoj at the Gymkhana Ground on Tuesday. However, Bobjee (who turns 61 on August 11) clad in a green T-shirt and looking fit as a fiddle will take over the cricketing aspects in all probability on August 1.

Till then, the tower of strength to the Hyderabad side for two decades in his heyday will take stock of the administrative inputs, including the viability of the HCA proposals aimed at the betterment of the team’s showing in domestic tournaments like Ranji Trophy.

“I am absolutely delighted. It is a challenge and I will do my best to bring in a qualitative difference to the team’s prospects,” he said. The HCA authorities are pinning hopes on Bobjee’s experiences as a right-hand batsman and leg-break specialist, who also had a very successful career as a professional cricketer in Ireland. A bigger plus in his favour is that he was the assistant coach of the Irish team during the 2011 World Cup.

Rao is the first Indian cricketer to be conferred with the Member of British Empire (MBE) medallion for his contribution for promoting the sport in ethnic-ridden Northern Ireland. His record as an all-round veteran of 108 first-class matches is pretty impressive-4,124 runs with a healthy 47.40 average and 218 wickets at 24.20.

In addition, he has been an excellent fielder at a time when this department was India’s chink in the armour. As director of HCA, he will enjoy sweeping powers in the sense that everyone, including coaches and umpires, will report to him. As part of his job, Rao will be involved in setting up of the remaining satellite academies that are to come up at various places in the twin cities and also in the interiors.

In a way, he will be accountable for all cricketing activities as he would be interacting with the players and support staff even as he operates from the two HCA offices at Gymkhana and Rajiv Gandhi International Cricket Stadium (RGICS). Players are hopeful that this would be a sound move as Bobjee is aware of the conditions in Hyderabad and has an understanding of the strengths and weaknesses of most teams.

His immediate challenge, though, would be to ensure that Hyderabad, which has been in the Plate division for a considerable period, will get elevated to the Elite division. With HCA also investing in VVS Laxman as a freelance batting consultant, they are making the right moves, on paper at least.