HCA row: BCCI Ombudsman refers matter to Apex Council

The matter relates to a complaint filed by Karimnagar District Cricket Association president V Agam Rao regarding the alleged irregularities in the utilisation of funds for promoting and developing cricket infrastructure in the districts of Telangana

HYDERABAD: In another significant development, the BCCI Ombudsman Justice Arun Mishra has directed the BCCI Apex Council to take appropriate decision with regard to the complaint by Karimnagar District Cricket Association president V Agam Rao regarding the alleged irregularities in the utilisation of funds for promoting and developing cricket infrastructure in the districts of Telangana.

In a letter dated April 14, 2025, the BCCU Ombudsman referred to the complainant’s prayer in which it was mentioned that “the Ombudsman may be pleased to enquire into the issue and pass appropriate orders to the BCCI to make sure that their orders are implemented and funds provided to the HCA are spent for district-level coaching, tournaments and infrastructure development on a priority and continuous basis”.

The complainant suggested that a mechanism may be evolved by the BCCI so that proper mention and audit of development is done on a regular basis, so that boys and girls from the districts get all the required facilities and aspire to play for the country.

The Ombudsman said that let the Apex Council take an appropriate decision in the matter in accordance with the law, and a copy of his order be communicated to the complainant, the BCCI and all concerned.

For his part, Agam Rao said the gross negligence of cricket in districts was in clear violation of the bye-laws of both the BCCI and the HCA, and was in direct contravention of the BCCI’s directives and recommendations issued in its orders in the year 2018 and again in the year 2021.

“The BCCI had specifically directed the HCA to comply with the following orders given by them and publish details of district-level development activities on its official website. None of these are implemented by HCA to date,” he said.