Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) has accused Hyderabad Cricket Association (HCA) President Jagan Mohan Rao of using coercive tactics, alleging that HCA officials pressured their staff to obtain complimentary tickets.
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The allegations of Hyderabad Cricket Association (HCA)
“blackmailing” Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) for more complimentary tickets (free passes) has reached the office of Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy even as the state association has denied all the allegations.
On Monday, CM Reddy ordered an inquiry into the matter after SRH wrote a letter to the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and the Indian Premier League (IPL) Governing Council, alleging threats from Hyderabad Cricket Association for free tickets for Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 matches.
They had also written that the franchise would consider shifting the base from Hyderabad to another state if the problem continued.
“All these unprofessional threats and actions by HCA, especially by the HCA president, make it evident that you don’t want Sunrisers to play at your stadium. If that is the case, please let me know in writing so that we can inform BCCI, the Telangana govt, and our management that you wish for us to move to another venue, and we will move,” An SRH official was quoted as saying by media houses.
Hyderabad Cricket denies allegation of blackmailing by SRH
Meanwhile, HCA president Jagan Mohan Rao has denied all allegations, asking the franchise to come forward with an open mind to find a resolution.
“The Apex Council clarifies that A. Jagan Mohan Rao, President, HCA, did not make any personal request to block 3900 tickets per match for his purchase and reiterates the discussions held on 19.02.2025, wherein the President has made a request on behalf of the Apex Council’s proposal to provide the tickets to the Club Secretaries,” HCA said in a press release.
“It is unfair on your part to make incorrect insinuations against the President of HCA…we request all the officials of SRH to come forward with an open mind with for a complete resolution of all outstanding issues,” it added.