Under Azhar, Hyderabad cricket plummets to darkness

HYDERABAD: Hyderabad's performances under the Hyderabad Cricket Association's (HCA) presidency of ex-India captain Mohd Azharuddin continue to plummet, with four straight losses in the Ranji Trophy, marked by a low score of 79 (all out) and an innings defeat in under two days.

The reason for the same, Deccan Chronicle found, was alleged corruption and
mismanagement of the association by Azharuddin, who has a history of such
allegations.

The current Hyderabad Ranji team has a squad of 23 members, with nine new
players making their debut. What is not clear is the selection process and
how new names continue to crop up every season, only to wither away soon.
There is no clear criterion for the selection of a team for the four-day
national tournament, considering there were no three-day leagues conducted
last year. Players have made it to the team solely based on their T20 league
performances.

While the allegations of corruption are supported by instances, such as the
recent arrest of a league team's vice-president by the Anti-Corruption
Bureau, youngsters of the Under-16 and Under-19 teams are apprehensive of
exposing the wrongdoings, fearing for their careers.

Parents and guardians of four Hyderabad players Deccan Chronicle spoke to
said that they were asked to pay around Rs. 30 lakh for a place in the
Hyderabad Ranji team but lost out, despite their wards' performances, to
players who did not even meet the BCCI criteria for selection. Despite this,
none of them was ready to register an official complaint.

The Hyderabad Ranji team is currently at the bottom of the table with one
point in five matches - with the point awarded as bad light led to a draw in
which Hyderabad was facing certain defeat.

It has been alleged that the increase in the number of cricket clubs, to
over 35, has led to new entrants making the cut to the three-day format by
allegedly buying their berth in the team.

Until a decade ago, 12 premium teams churned the best talent, who later went
on to represent the team in the Ranji Trophy. However, newer entrants are
making the cut with no demotions to the two-day leagues.

It has been alleged that the "sale" of league teams to cricket academies is
the main reason to blame. Promising and deserving players, who cannot afford
to pay, are lost to cricket, while those whose parents pay lakhs make the
cut.

While Azhar's tenure as the HCA's president was looked forward to with a
promise to enhance Hyderabad's talent pool, he now shoulders the lion's
share of the blame for the alleged mismanagement of the local league
structure.

The HCA has been dogged by numerous allegations of corruption and
mismanagement since Mohd Azharuddin took charge, with different factions
fighting for control, the matter going to court, and both sides claiming to
be the legally correct management. The irony hit sky-high when even the
appointment of an ombudsman ran into legal trouble.

Azhar and his coterie, however, remain oblivious to corruption charges or
mismanagement, as evidenced by the ticketing mismanagement during a recent
T20 International match in the city, which led to a stampede and injuries.

Neither the BCCI nor the state government has taken any action. Officials
said that a case was filed and a probe is underway.

Allegations made:

* Parents claim that since Azhar took over, corruption has increased

* Rs. 15 lakh, up from Rs. 5 lakh, allegedly to be paid for selection to U-16, U-19
and U-25 squads

* Rs. 20-Rs.30 lakh is to be allegedly paid for getting selected to the Hyderabad
Ranji Team. This amount allegedly varies based on performances in U-16 to
U-25 levels.

* Currently, there are many players in the Ranji squad who have not played
U-16, U-19 or U-25 cricket

* 25 first-class matches and five-year experience - the BCCI's criteria for
being a selector - are openly flouted by the HCA.