Even after the NGRI declared two years ago that the Moin-ud-Dowla Gold Cup was not a gold cup, but only a gold-plated one, none in the Hyderabad Cricket Association is able to say whether the gold cup was replaced with a gold-plated one.
The mystery deepens with the local police deciding to close the investigation as they are “unable to probe any further”.
The investigation ending up in a cul-de-sac, was confirmed by HCA secretary M.V. Sridhar.
“We don’t know exactly what had happened. But we have to respect the sentiments and conduct the All India invitational tournament for Moin-ud-Dowla Gold Cup with same respect as we have been doing over the years,” Dr. Sridhar said.
One thing for sure is that when the eight teams battle it out for the cup this season commencing Thursday, it’s the gold-plated cup they would be vying for, besides a winner’s purse of Rs.1 lakh.
Former HCA secretary P.R. Man Singh was particular that as per the 1931 evaluation of the Gold Cup, it was worth Rs.7,000, as per moderate estimates of Rs.100 per 10 gram of gold in those days and weighed about 2.75 kg. But another evaluation by the SBH deputy general manager Jayawanth Rao in 1966 showed the cup worth Rs.2.75 lakh.
A subsequent evaluation, again by the SBH, led to a startling disclosure that the cup weighed 1.80 kg and was worth just Rs.1 lakh.
However, there is a sense of relief among the HCA officials that the case is ‘closed’ although there is anguish among old-timers as the Cup saga continues to remain a mystery.
