Monday, Aug 8, 2022

HCA: Three-day league put off, new season to start with Tiger T20 tourney

By N Jagannath Das

Published: Updated On - 07:08 PM, Tue - 6 July 21

HCA: Three-day league put off, new season to start with Tiger T20 tourney — Three-day league put off indefinitely as players warned of participating in other than HCA matches

Hyderabad: The proposed new season of the John Manoj-led Apex Council, which was to start from Wednesday with three day league, went for a toss as President Mohammed Azharuddin decided to start the new season with Tiger T20 from July 12 (Monday).

Taken by surprise, the shocked John Manoj-led Apex Council decided to postpone the start of the three day league.

Azharuddin, in fact, warned that this Tiger T20 Trophy, is the officially recognized tournament of HCA for now.

According to a statement, it said the HCA Apex Council, chaired by Mohammed Azharuddin, decided the new cricket season with Tiger T20 Cup tournament. “This is in line with the BCCI calendar schedule for 2021 that starts with Syed Mushtaq Ali T20 Trophy.”

“Any other match/matches organized by any other individual/group of individuals/ disqualified members is deemed to be without authority, shall be treated as a private match and performances will not be taken on the record by HCA and necessary action will be taken in line with Rule 16,” the statement added.

Ever since Ombudsman Justice (retd) Deepak Verma temporarily disqualified the five Apex Council members, Azharuddin has taken a tough stance. He prevented the Manoj-led Apex Council members from holding the press conference at Gymkhana grounds and then delegating the powers of Manoj group to the nominated members of the Apex Council.

The Tiger T20 Trophy and the postponement of the three day league could give a sigh of relief to the teams, the players and the club secretaries. Till Tuesday evening, they were confused as they are caught on the horns of dilemma. “We are clueless. The players and the teams were all preparing for the new season then we were all caught off guard with Saturday’s development.

When we went to submit the photographs and forms at the HCA office on Tuesday at the Uppal Stadium the officials refused to take the forms. They just asked us to give at the entrance office. I did not take the risk and returned back home. In fact, we were told that fresh forms will be
available for the T20 tournament,” said a captain of the team.

The teams have been asked to collect the forms from the Uppal stadium from July 7. Entries close on July 10.