HCA elections likely soon, Jeevan Reddy hints at November polls

Hyderabad Cricket Association secretary M Jeevan Reddy said its elections might be held in November, adding that the process had begun. He also outlined BCCI-suggested stadium improvements ahead of the India-West Indies T20I and plans to strengthen district cricket infrastructure

Hyderabad: Hyderabad Cricket Association secretary M Jeevan Reddy hinted that the HCA elections might be held in November.

Briefing the media after attending the recent BCCI annual general meeting in Mumbai, Mr Jeevan Reddy said the process had already begun and that they were hopeful of holding the elections soon.

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Regarding the outcome of the BCCI meeting for the HCA, the HCA secretary said the BCCI had suggested some measures to improve infrastructure at the Rajiv Gandhi Stadium in Uppal, which will host the India-West Indies T20 International on October 14. The sale of tickets will commence on October 7.

“The BCCI has evaluated the existing facilities at the stadium after the IPL and the TG 20 League and came up with some improvements which we would try our best to put in place for the match and in all probability will comply with all the guidelines for the India-Zimbabwe ODI next January,” Mr Jeevan Reddy said.

“The preparations are in full swing for the successful conduct of the India-West Indies T20I match and the desired coordination with various State Government agencies has already begun,” he said.

“We expect the BCCI to evaluate the playing conditions and facilities after the two international matches and that it would be allocating more internationals to HCA,” the HCA secretary said.

The HCA official said 2,000 tickets would be given free of cost to government school students.

Mr Jeevan Reddy said the issue of the State Government constructing a cricket stadium in the proposed Future City had come up during his recent meeting with the BCCI top brass.

“The BCCI, in general, is always keen to let the State Associations develop infrastructure across the States. I am sure it will come up with a positive response once the new stadium proposal takes a definite shape and direction,” he said.

Mr T Seshnarayan, HCA official spokesperson, said full-fledged cricket academies would be operational by the year-end in Mahabubnagar and Karimnagar districts, with floodlights in place.

He appealed to those sections that were tarnishing the image of the HCA through their “unhealthy actions” in the name of protesting for the rights of those in rural areas to stop such activities.

“The HCA is determined to take cricket to the interiors of the State and will usher in a new chapter,” he said.

“The whole effort of the HCA top brass is to ensure that every District Cricket Association affiliated to the HCA will have minimum facilities to host first-class matches soon,” he said.