Disgusted with Azharuddin, HCA plans election around Jan.10, 2023

HYDERABAD: It was a black day in the history of the Hyderabad Cricket Association (HCA), as HCA members were compelled to hold a special general meeting (SGM) on Sunday outside the Rajiv Gandhi International Cricket Stadium in Uppal, Hyderabad.

According to reports, the outgoing HCA president, Mohammad Azharuddin, reportedly instructed security to lock all stadium gates and not allow anyone inside.

The members claimed that security personnel barred members of the Hyderabad Cricket Association from entering the Uppal Stadium. The gates were locked, and no one was allowed to enter.

Former president G Vinod presided over the meeting, which was attended by 165 members, including former Test players N Shivlal Yadav and Arshad Ayub. However, none of them were allowed to enter the stadium.

Reports state that following the meeting, ex-office holders went to the Uppal police station to file a case against Azharuddin for denying the members' request to hold the SGM in the stadium and for sending threatening messages to the club secretaries.

The members unanimously agreed to hold elections within the time frame set out in the HCA bye - laws. The elections are scheduled for around January 10, 2023.

The HCA has also decided to appoint former chief election commissioner Veeravalli Sundaram Sampath as the election officer. Sampath oversaw the elections in 2019, when Azharuddin was elected president.

Former HCA president G Vinod Kumar stated that December 11, 2022 will go down in history as a dark day for the Hyderabad Cricket Association (HCA). All members gathered here to hold the SGM meeting in order to save HCA, but they were not allowed to enter the stadium, which is extremely undemocratic. Despite the fact that his term actually ended in September 2022, Azhar continues to serve as president. We want to protect the HCA's interests from Azhar's dictatorial attitude. We've decided to hold elections within the time frame specified in the HCA bylaws. The elections are set to take place on January 10, 2023.

T Shesh Narayan, former secretary of HCA said, "This is a black day in the history of the HCA and Telangana. We will file a lawsuit against Azhar because he put the members on the road. The state government should take action to bring this dictatorship to an end. We were not allowed to hold the SGM on the premises, and he had terrorised the members with messages. We have an ODI in January, and we must have a new body in place before the game".

"It is a shameful act on Azharuddin's part. It is my misfortune that I have lived to witness such a day in HCA's history. The person who has done nothing for the stadium's construction has locked out the members who have worked day and night to make the dream of having a stadium come true," said Shivlal Yadav.