HCA takes up players’ cause

HCA secretary writes to BCCI on Hyderabad cricketers being ignored

In the wake of criticism in the media about Hyderabad players being ignored in selection at zonal and national level, Hyderabad Cricket Association secretary M. V. Sridhar dashed off a letter to the BCCI secretary Sanjay Jagdale expressing displeasure at the way Hyderabad cricketers were ignored in the India ‘A’ and the Duleep Trophy selections.

In his letter, a copy of which is available with The Hindu , Dr. Sridhar reminds that dated September 7, 2012, listing out the names of consistent performers including Ranji opener P. Akshath Reddy and captain Dwaraka Ravi Teja from Hyderabad.

“Hyderabad Cricket Association has been making all efforts to ensure proper projection of deserving players who have performed well for the State and provide a platform of opportunity for them to be duly recognised,” the HCA official said in his letter, “Inspite of all our representations, our players could not find their place in Rest of India, Irani Trophy and Challenger Trophy teams and being a former cricketer you will understand the player’s predicament,” Sridhar explained.

“It is with regret that I wish to place on record our utmost dissatisfaction on the selection methodologies adopted and the injustice meted out to our cricketers and request you to take immediate corrective measures,” the HCA secretary pointed out in his letter.

“We are once again enclosing herewith the scores of all top batsmen of last season and you will notice that their names figure prominently in that list. The other highlighted names are those who were picked for the India ‘A’ Team, for which these boys were not considered at all,” the letter pointed out.

“In the recent selection for the South Zone team to participate in the Duleep trophy, only Akshit Reddy was selected in the squad and to add to our misery, he was not picked in the playing XI against East Zone, in spite of the fact that he has the maximum number of centuries among all the members of that team,” Sridhar reminded.

“We appreciate the fact that opportunity has to be given to all deserving boys but the representation in the playing XI which has players only from two States, defies all norms of justice,” the HCA secretary letter stated.