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HCA stops all league matches after High Court stay

“In the light of the Interim Stay order issued by the Honorable Court, you are hereby informed that all the ongoing league matches stand postponed with immediate effect,’’ said the secretary Vijayanand.

By N Jagannath Das

Updated On - 6 January 2021, 07:43 PM

HCA stops all league matches after High Court stay — The empty Gymkhana ground after the three-day league matches were called off on Wednesday.

Hyderabad:Hyderabad Cricket Association (HCA) has an uncanny knack of getting into trouble. The latest incident was when the Telangana High Court had stayed HCA to conduct all the league matches. Justice Kodanda Ram passed an order to stop all the matches after Union Bank were denied permission to play in the leagues till the team is allowed to play in the leagues.

After the merger of Andhra Bank with the Union Bank, the team had requested the HCA to continue to play in the local leagues. But the association refused to allow the team’s participation forcing the bank to seek legal help.

There was some communication gap and all the matches in the three-day A-Division resumed on the second day before secretary R Vijayanand issued instructions to stop all the matches. Play did not resume after lunch session.

“In the light of the Interim stay order issued by the Honourable Court, you are hereby informed that all the ongoing league matches stand postponed with immediate effect,’’ said Vijayanand in a statement.

Vijayanand said on taking legal advice, they have decided to stop the league matches. “These fourth-round matches will continue after we get the official High Court order. We will obey the court order.’’

Incidentally, in an earlier judgement the High Court had allowed the Union Bank to play in the leagues. The HCA dilly-dallied for a few days with president Mohd Azharuddin saying that he will seek legal help in this issue.

A week later, secretary R Vijayanand sent a letter to joint secretary Naresh Sharma, who is in charge of the leagues, to allow the Union Bank to play in the league. Based on that letter, the Union Bank was asked to register the players name in the on-going three-day league. But in a sudden volte-face, secretary Vijayanand reversed his decision and asked the joint secretary to wait for a few more days before allowing the team to play in the league. The Union Bank went back to the doors of Court to seek justice.

The whole episode has once again shown HCA in a poor light. The 2020-21 local season seems to be a jinxed one as it got a delayed start because of the Covid-19 pandemic. The leagues which originally begin in June and July, started only recently and before the fourth round league matches came to an abrupt end. This has left players and club secretaries frustrated and angry over HCA’s ill-directed policies.

A club secretary fumed and said the HCA is trying to play with the careers of the players. “As it is the season got a delayed start and there were a lot of controversies as a few undeserving teams were promoted to the three-day league. The administrators have virtually made a mockery of the leagues and the game. Now this High Court judgement is a slap on their face,’’ said a club secretary.

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