Panel appointed by HC suggests sweeping changes in HCA, proposes separate league matches for all districts

Justice P Naveen Rao committee suggests online redressal mechanism for grievances

HYDERABAD: Justice P Naveen Rao, the single-member supervisory committee appointed by the Telangana High Court to undertake the exercise of conducting league matches for the cricket season 2024-25, suggested sweeping changes in the HCA League structure and also made some critical recommendations.

“Certain decisions were taken by the HCA violating even the recommendations of the Supreme Court-appointed one-man committee Justice L Nageshwara Rao,” Justice Rao said in his report.
“I would suggest that separate league matches should be held for all the districts other than Hyderabad and Ranga Reddy districts and two best performing teams should be inducted into the A-League,” he felt.

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“The cricket season should start in May with the T-20 leagues. They can be conducted between 7 am to 11 am and under floodlights if available. HCA can explore conducting revised formats,” he suggested.

Justice Rao felt that the current league structure resulted in a mix of teams with significantly varied skill levels within the same division. “This disparity dilutes the quality of competition, often leading to lopsided matches and skewed individual performances,” he said.

“Substandard umpiring led to disputes and disruptions during matches, affecting the outcomes and also raising credibility and integrity of the league system itself,” he said.
On institution teams, Justice Rao said, barring very few teams like State Bank of India, most of them did not have enough employees to field and as such, the rule that at least seven players should be employees was being flouted frequently.

“It is noted that the institutions which were originally given the memberships on the basis of recruiting cricketers for employment have done very little in active recruitments,” he said. “A team of former players should be constituted, and it should review all the issues, including the critical age discrepancy.”

The grounds are located at far-off places with no basic infrastructure facilities. A retired cricketer who has represented India or played for the State in the BCCI should supervise the facilities,” Justice Rao said.

“HCA should take on lease 30 grounds for the entire six months and maintain them. Out of this, 10 should be A category grounds and 20 should be B category grounds,” he said.
Justice Rao felt that coaching assignments should be given to current and ex-players to ensure a bond and easy access to the players to improve their skills.

Justice Rao also suggested that the two-day and three-day league matches from which the State teams are picked should have a video-recording facility.

“There should be an online redressal mechanism for any grievance. If a grievance is not resolved by this means, a personal hearing will be held before a committee of officials and the issues will be resolved expeditiously,” Justice Rao said. “The prestigious Moin-ud-Dowla Gold Cup should be revived,” he said.