For the 40-odd former Hyderabad cricketers, including women players, who wanted to hold a meeting in the conference hall at Gymkhana Ground on Sunday, it turned out to be a forgetful experience as they were denied the facility.
Consequently, these players including former fast bowler Govindraj, who was a member of the 1971 Indian team which won the series for the first time in England, another ex-India star M.V. Narasimha Rao, former Hyderabad Ranji stars Vijay Mohan Raj, Jyothi Prasad and Noshir Mehta held their meeting in the open under a tree. “It’s shocking to be treated in such a manner. All we wanted was to find a way to meet the guidelines of the Justice Lodha panel with regard to players’ panel which in turn will coordinate with the Hyderabad Cricket Association,” Devraj Govindraj moaned.
“We were disgusted to be told that the room is locked and the chairs cannot be used. It was a pathetic experience to stand in the open when many fans were there to buy IPL tickets and were clearly amused looking at us as to what was happening,” Govindraj explained. Interestingly, HCA Secretary T. Seshnarayan issued an official release later in the evening stating a meeting of the former Hyderabad Test and Ranji players is being convened on May 11 and 12 (for men and women cricketers) to discuss the modalities of forming the players’ panel.
As per the guidelines, a five-member panel including one woman cricketer, is expected to be named to be part of the cricket administration in the HCA.
This players’ panel will also have a major say in coaching and selection issues.
