IPL face-off in Hyderabad: Probe ordered into charges of HCA's demand for more free tickets – The South First

Revanth Reddy voiced concern over SRH saying that it might reconsider playing matches at Hyderabad’s Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium if the HCA did not mend its ways.
Published Apr 01, 2025 | 8:47 AM ⚊ Updated Apr 01, 2025 | 8:47 AM
Revanth Reddy wants the team to focus on their matches. (Facebook)

Synopsis: A vigilance probe was ordered against Hyderabad Cricket Association chief A Jagan Mohan Rao after Sunrisers Hyderabad accused the state cricket body of pressuring it for more free tickets. The IPL team also threatened to change the venue if the Association did not mend its ways.

Synopsis: A vigilance probe was ordered against Hyderabad Cricket Association chief A Jagan Mohan Rao after Sunrisers Hyderabad accused the state cricket body of pressuring it for more free tickets. The IPL team also threatened to change the venue if the Association did not mend its ways.
Telangana Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy has ordered a Vigilance and Enforcement probe into allegations that Hyderabad Cricket Association (HCA) President A Jagan Mohan Rao and other members attempted to pressure Sunrisers Hyderabad IPL team for complimentary passes and free tickets.
According to sources, the chief minister acted immediately on learning about the allegations, expressing his commitment to supporting Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) throughout the 2025 IPL season.
He also voiced concern over SRH saying that it might reconsider playing matches at Hyderabad’s Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium if the HCA did not mend its ways.
Revanth Reddy reportedly told officials that SRH should not face any inconvenience while playing in Hyderabad. The team should be able to focus on their matches without external pressures.
SRH is scheduled to play five more matches in Hyderabad, in addition to the two they have already played in the ongoing IPL 2025 season.
“The chief minister is keen on ensuring that SRH has no trouble in Hyderabad. Hence, he has ordered a vigilance probe led by Director General of Vigilance and Enforcement K Srinivasa Reddy, who is expected to submit a report soon,” a source from the Chief Minister’s Office told South First.
The issue came to light when SRH General Manager Srinath TB sent an email to the HCA, accusing its officials, particularly President Rao, of coercion and intimidation on the allotment of complimentary tickets.
In an email to HCA Treasurer CJ Srinivas, SRH raised serious concerns over the conduct of HCA officials. The team, as per regulations, provides HCA with 50 complimentary tickets per match in the F12A VIP box, which is part of the 3,900 complimentary tickets allocated.
However, HCA allegedly demanded 20 additional tickets, which SRH refused.
As a retaliatory measure, HCA reportedly locked the F3 corporate box during SRH’s match against Lucknow Super Giants on 27 March, refusing to open it until extra tickets were provided.
SRH said it pays the rent for the stadium and during the IPL season, the stadium falls under its jurisdiction. The team also claimed that such coercive practices have been going on for quite some time.
Frustrated by HCA’s conduct, SRH said it would consider relocating to another venue and has warned of filing a formal complaint with the BCCI.
In a rebuttal to Srinath, the HCA recalled a meeting held on 19 February, between SRH officials and the HCA Apex Council.
During this meeting, the Council proposed that 3,900 tickets be distributed directly to club secretaries rather than through HCA. SRH officials had agreed to provide 2,500 tickets through a single channel, but HCA requested multiple distribution channels for transparency.
The HCA denied allegations against its President Rao, stating that he never personally requested 3,900 tickets per match for his use. The association clarified that only 3,880 complimentary tickets were received, and the demand for 20 additional tickets has been misrepresented as blackmail.
Additionally, HCA stated that SRH representatives had initially agreed to allocate the extra 20 tickets in another section but later accused HCA of blackmail, which it termed baseless.
SRH also alleged that Rao demanded 10 percent of the tickets for each match to be blocked, which HCA categorically denied.
Regarding stadium renovations, HCA noted that SRH had initially proposed funding ₹8 to ₹10 crore for seat installations via CSR funds, which it later failed to fulfill.
Meanwhile, HCA requested Sun Network’s MD to support stadium development, including painting and modernising corporate boxes. However, HCA claimed that SRH had not been transparent regarding its contributions to the renovations.
Despite past controversies, HCA urged SRH to engage in direct discussions to resolve issues amicably. The association stressed that settling disputes through constructive dialogue rather than emails would be more beneficial for both parties.
(Edited by Majnu Babu).
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