Hyderabad: The Telangana high court on Wednesday directed the Hyderabad Cricket Association (HCA) to file counters in appeals challenging an April 2026 order of a single judge that appointed a one-man commission to oversee HCA affairs and directed the DGP to constitute a special investigation team to probe alleged financial irregularities in the association.A division bench comprising Chief Justice Aparesh Kumar Singh and Justice GM Mohiuddin issued the directions while hearing appeals filed by cricket clubs. The bench also directed Safilguda Cricket Club, the original petitioner before the single judge, to file its counter. The appellant clubs — SA Amberpet Cricket Club, Zinda Tilismath Cricket Club and Sagar Cricket Club — were granted a week to file replies to the counters. The matter was adjourned to July 21.The single judge had earlier directed the state CID to constitute an SIT to investigate allegations of mismanagement and financial irregularities in HCA. The court had also asked Justice Naveen Rao, former acting Chief Justice of the Telangana high court, to continue supervising HCA as a one-man committee until completion of the criminal investigation.Senior counsel P Raghu Ram, appearing for one of the appellant clubs, contended that taking over the administration of HCA, including its financial affairs, and replacing the elected body was illegal. “Intervention could have been confined to the alleged offences, but not to replacing the elected body. As a result, the entire pleasure of cricket is dragged into courts,” he argued.Another counsel for the appellants submitted that the clubs were not parties to the original writ petition. “Just because some members allegedly did something wrong, the entire committee is held at fault,” he said.Opposing the appeals, HCA argued that the appellants and other member clubs were aware of the proceedings but had not acted earlier. “Of 150 member clubs, only 11 are before the court now. What about the others?” its counsel submitted.After hearing the parties, the bench directed all sides to place a comprehensive record of their cases before the next hearing.
