Laxman and Azharuddin to steer city cricketers

Faced with uncertainty in getting selected on State teams owing to infighting in the Hyderabad Cricket Association, cricketers in the City have moved to form a concrete players association as mandated by the Lodha Committee recommendations.

On Saturday, past players met at the Gymkhana grounds and named a Steering Committee comprising former Test players VVS Laxman, Mohammad Azharuddin, and women players Rajini Venugopal and Vidya Yadav.

Later in the evening, Laxman issued a statement saying this was done “to take up the matter with the Apex Council for forming the Players Association and also address and resolve the present situation in the HCA (selections of two teams, appointment of coaches and the representatives of players in the Apex Council).”

They also laid down some guidelines. “Till such time the Steering Committee discusses the matter with the elected body of HCA no former players, men and women, will take the responsibility of a support staff, be part of any selection committee, be the players representative in the Apex Council and any such matters which may arise.”

The members appreciated the withdrawal of Arjun Yadav as coach of Hyderabad in the interest of players.

“The Apex Council has agreed to appoint an electoral officer at the earliest, a positive sign in the formation of the players association,” the statement read.

“The registration process was almost completed so that the players association will be ready with all documentation when the electoral officer is appointed, so that there is no delay in conducting the elections.”

The Steering Committee will meet members of the Apex Council in two or three days, the note said.