Hyderabad Cricket Association (HCA) is the association that bears all the responsibilities for governing and organising all types of cricket related activities in Hyderabad and the other districts of Andhra Pradesh, India as well as the Hyderabad cricket team. Hyderabad Cricket Association or the HCA is affiliated to the Board of Control for Cricket in India. The Hyderabad Cricket Association develops and promotes the game by organising League Tournaments, Tournaments for the age group Under-13, Under-15, Under-17, and Under-19, Under-22 and Under-25 categories, other than conducting and organising National Tournaments.
History of Hyderabad Cricket Association
Hyderabad has quite an old history of cricket as the British Army introduced the game of cricket to the people of Hyderabad long back in the years of around 1880. After that a lot of foreign teams toured the city from time to time till date and the most important ones being the likes of Oxford University Authentic and the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC). The HCA was founded in the month of April, 1934, by the cricket enthusiasts like Nadir Shah Chenoy, DN Dittia, Ganesh Rao, Hussain Ali Khan etc. Apart from them, the likes of S. Ali Raza, Mahmood Hussain Khan, P F Durrand, Dattatriya and Rangannah also contributed their own in founding the HCA. They anonymously elected Nawab Turab Yar Jung as the first President and S.M. Hadi as the first Secretary of the Hyderabad Cricket Association.
Thus it can be said that Hyderabad Cricket Association from 1934 has been the guardians of the game of cricket and keepers of sacred code in Hyderabad and Telangana districts.
Recent Developments in Hyderabad Cricket Association
The Hyderabad Cricket Association has been quite successful as the custodians of the game of cricket and keepers of sacred code in Hyderabad and Telangana districts till its inception in the year of 1934. The association has played key roles in introducing a large number of eminent cricket players to the Indian Cricket that include the likes of VVS Laxman and Mohammad Azharuddin. It has also done some great jobs in organising a number of cricket matches and tournaments in its premium stadiums, quite successfully throughout its journey.
The Moin-ud-Dowla Gold Cup that started its journey in the years of 1930-31 in Hyderabad is considered to be one of the most popular domestic tournaments in India, till now. The Hyderabad Cricket Association has spread its activities under the proper guidance of several eminent personalities after its inception and it has become successful to blossom into an effective governing body. It also nurtured the sport of cricket efficiently within its domain by creating ample vistas for the cricketers and also for their dreams of achieving national and international glory.
In the present years, Hyderabad now boosts of an exclusive state-of-the-art cricket venue ready to host international matches in a fashion suitable to the great game of cricket which is at par with any international venue of highest repute, thanks to the endeavours of Mr. N.S.Yadav, Hon. Secretary at HCA, 2000-09.
Though, unfortunately there is no international standard cricket venue available in Hyderabad, the fact did not de-motivate the association from continuing its relentless endeavours for the improvement of cricket in Hyderabad. Mr. Kiran Kumar, the Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh, is the currently the Chief Patron of Hyderabad Cricket Association, where as Arshad Ayub is the President of the association.