TCA accuses HCA of irregularities in under-14 cricket selections

The Telangana Cricket Association criticised the Hyderabad Cricket Association for violating High Court orders and BCCI directives during the under-14 selections. TCA alleged mismanagement, lack of facilities and unfair trials, while announcing plans for the Telangana Premier League and Telangana Gold Cup

Hyderabad: The Telangana Cricket Association (TCA) found fault with the Hyderabad Cricket Association (HCA) for violating High Court orders, brushing aside BCCI directives and indulging in irregularities in the recent Hyderabad under-14 selections.

TCA General Secretary Guruva Reddy said at a media briefing here on Friday that the HCA never bothered to follow even the basic guidelines like informing the concerned party about the schedule of the selection in advance. Worse, it called all the under-14 players to Gymkhana Ground in Secunderabad without ensuring basic amenities and made them wait in long queues for hours before the trials.

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“One could easily understand the plight of about 3500 players from across the State who were there for the recent under-14 selection.

“We don’t understand the logic behind calling for selections in one day when it is common sense that hundreds would enthusiastically attend to showcase their talent with so much hope,” Guruva Reddy said.

“Ironically, the HCA under-14 tournament is not recognised by the BCCI and what purpose it would serve only the officials can explain,” he said.

TCA questioned how thousands of boys could be trialled in a single day for a state-level selection, bypassing the mandatory process of conducting district matches first. “This appears to be an attempt to suppress genuine talent,” the association alleged, adding that the U-14 age group is not a recognised BCCI tournament.

“The TCA fears that the data gathered from the players would be handed over to HCA-sponsored private academies for making more money,” the TCA official said.

“It is disgusting that HCA, which has 210 affiliated cricket clubs, mostly city-centric, is controlling the game across the State with no proper administrative structure in the districts,” he said.

The TCA also announced that the Telangana Premier League would be organised soon and that the Telangana Gold Cup would be held from December 21 across the districts.

“We will continue to fight with the HCA by taking up legitimate issues with the BCCI and the State Government,” Guruva Reddy said.