‘Make the HCAE autonomous and independent’

Vijay Mohan Raj, former Ranji cricketer, urges the BCCI to make the Hyderabad Cricket Academy of Excellence fully autonomous and financially independent. He highlights delays, administrative interference, and stresses the Academy’s role in improving state-level cricket performance

By Vijay Mohan Raj

The obsession with blaming each other for the decline of cricket standards in Hyderabad has sidelined the importance of providing players opportunities to improve their skills.

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While there was confusion, corruption, and contradiction among administrators, there was structured and disciplined activity at the Hyderabad Cricket Academy of Excellence (HCAE).

The dismal performances of Hyderabad State men’s and women’s teams in national tournaments until 2023 were reversed into creditable results in 2023 and 2024.

The HCAE was revived in May 2023 and stalled in May 2025 for reasons only the administration can explain.

Even during the two years it functioned, there was an environment of mistrust and lack of cooperation. Despite inadequate support from the administration, the coaching and support staff maintained their commitment.

As Director, I had the unpleasant task of removing some coaches and support staff who had become freeloaders and liabilities. The remaining personnel did an honest and commendable job in maintaining the required standards.

At the conclusion in May 2025, comprehensive player reports, which analysed each state cricketer’s performance at the Academy, were submitted to the Honorary Secretary in four cartons. Unfortunately, these remain in storage without anyone taking notice.

I also submitted a performance report of the Academy along with recommendations to improve players’ performance and infrastructure. As I understand, this report was discarded.

Anticipating this, I submitted another copy of the reports and player analysis to Justice Naveen Rao, hoping the Academy would be revived to ensure proper training for state-level cricketers.

As of now, progress is in limbo, and cricket preparation is delayed.

The good work done by players and coaches at the Academy until May is reflected in the commendable performance of the senior team in the Butchi Babu Trophy in Chennai.

Hyderabad cricket needs reform. The Academy should be delinked from the administration, made financially independent, and fully autonomous.

I hope a visionary within the BCCI takes notice and makes it mandatory for state academies to function as branches of the National Cricket Academy to make this possible.

The author is a Former Ranji Trophy cricketer for Bombay and Hyderabad