HYDERABAD: The Election Commission's (EC) schedule for assembly elections in five states across the country has caught the newly elected apex council of Hyderabad Cricket Association (HCA) on the wrong foot and jeopardized the cricket body's chances of hosting the 5th T20 match between India and Australia at the RGIC Stadium.
Elections to the Telangana state assembly will be held on November 30 and the counting of votes will be on December 3. This has caused trouble for the HCA as Hyderabad has been allotted the fifth T20 match of the series to be held here on December 3.
Sources said that it will be a herculean task for the HCA to go ahead with the game. The apex council of the HCA had a lengthy discussion on the issue during their first meeting a couple of days ago.
It is learnt that the police will not be able to provide adequate security for the match as they will be busy handling law and order issues due to the counting of votes. It is pertinent to note that the HCA also had trouble in getting police security for the World Cup warm-up match on September 30 as the police were busy with the arrangements due to Ganesh Visarjan and the Milad-un-Nabi celebrations. The match was played without spectators being allowed into the stadium.
Sources said that Section 144 will be in vogue on that day. Also, the police machinery will be under the control of the EC and therefore any permission will have to be taken from the EC as well as the police officials.
The HCA officials are tight lipped on the issue, but sources said the chances of the match being held in Hyderabad are bleak. “Various other options have been considered but practically they may not be feasible,” sources said.
"There is a possibility of asking the BCCI to swap the Visakhapatnam match, to be held on November 23, with the Hyderabad match. However, the HCA may have to see if they will be in a position to hold the match on November 23 or any other date as some renovation works like replacing chairs and canopy at the west end is being done," sources said.
"The apex council members are looking at various options and trying to work things out. We are hoping that the match is held in the city, but the picture will be clearer only after a couple of days," said another source.
It is learnt that the HCA is shooting off a letter to the BCCI on the issue and will wait for the parent body to take a call on the match venue.
It is also learnt that the Visaka Industries issue figured in the apex council meeting. Sources said the HCA doesn't have the money to pay Visaka right now and therefore will approach the court and try to buy some time. "HCA has to pay about Rs 17.5 crore to Visaka in the next few days. There is no money in the HCA coffers. The only option is to go to court again," sources said.
Sources also added that the HCA will have to conduct their AGM and get the accounts passed for the BCCI to release funds to the state body.
Start a Conversation
Post comment