Hyderabad: The Hyderabad Cricket Association has named its club secretaries’ enclosure on south west ground floor at the Rajiv Gandhi International Cricket Stadium as Ranganna Lounge, after former administrator late M. Ranga Reddy.
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.
It was under Ranga Reddy’s presidentship that construction of the RGICS began in 2003. “He was a keen administrator who contributed a lot to Hyderabad cricket and also groomed me at the HCA. We are trying to reach out to his family members and invite them this Sunday for the IPL final at which the Lounge will be inaugurated,” HCA secretary T. Shesh Narayan said.
The South and North pavilions at the RGICS are named after (former Test cricketers) N. Shivlal Yadav and VVS Laxman. Shivlal has been HCA secretary, joint secretary, BCCI vice-president as well as interim president post his playing career.
The South Pavilion also houses Man Singh Lounge (named after former HCA secretary and manager of the 1983 World Cup winning Indian team).
Two gates of the RGICS are also named after yesteryear stars Ghulam Ahmed and M.L. Jaisimha.
Back in 2014, the HCA named blocks in the East and West stands after its international players Mansoor Ali Khan Pataudi, Abbas Ali Baig, Gul Mohammed, Nawab Mohammed Hussain, Syed Abid Ali, P. Krishnamurthy, H. K. Jayantilal and M. V. Narasimha Rao.
