HCA honours former official with lounge at Uppal stadium

Hyderabad: The Hyderabad Cricket Association’s club secretaries enclosure at the Rajiv Gandhi International Cricket Stadium in Uppal has been christened ‘Ranganna Lounge’ in honour of late M. Ranga Reddy, the cricket body’s former administrator for two decades.

Many of the current and past HCA officials, including secretary T. Shesh Narayan, learnt the ropes of cricket administration under Ranga Reddy, and were in full attendance at the inauguration on Sunday evening, ahead of the IPL-10 final between Mumbai Indians and Rising Pune Supergiant.

Applause broke through the room as HCA president G. Vivekanand cut the ribbon in the presence Ranga Reddy’s family members — daughter Deepika, son-in-law and grandchildren — as officials reminisced the seasoned official’s contribution to Hyderabad cricket.

“He was an astute administrator and my mentor. I learnt a lot under him,” said former HCA secretary D. S. Chalapathi, who made it to the event despite health issues.

Ranganna, as Ranga Reddy was popularly known in Hyderabad cricketing circles, was HCA president from 2000 to 2004, its secretary from 1992 to 2000 and joint secretary between 1980 and 1984. A former vice-president of the BCCI, he was also manager of Indian teams that toured New Zealand, England and Bangladesh before he passed away at 72, in June 2011.

For the record, construction of the Rajiv Gandhi International Cricket Stadium began in 2003, under Ranga Reddy’s presidentship.