A massive controversy has erupted in IPL 2025 involving the Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) franchise and the Hyderabad Cricket Association (HCA) over ticket allocations and alleged threats. The dispute, which initially began over complimentary passes, has escalated into a major row, prompting Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy to order a formal inquiry. Senior IPS officer K. Srinivas Reddy, head of the Vigilance and Enforcement Department, has been appointed to lead the investigation.
The SRH management has accused HCA president A. Jagan Mohan Rao of blackmailing and threatening their staff. According to SRH, Rao demanded additional tickets for personal use and even locked a corporate box just hours before their match against the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) on March 27. The F3 box, which was designated for LSG owner Sanjiv Goenka, was allegedly locked to pressure SRH into handing over 20 extra complimentary tickets.
The franchise claims that they had already provided 3,900 complimentary passes to HCA, as per the agreement, and any further demands were unjustified. SRH also pointed out that the team had funded key stadium upgrades, including painting, air-conditioning installation, and washroom repairs, while accusing HCA of taking undue credit for the improvements.
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In response, HCA denied all allegations of coercion and blackmail. The association claimed that they had funded part of the stadium upgradation and were yet to be reimbursed by SRH. Furthermore, HCA argued that SRH had issued only 3,880 complimentary tickets instead of the agreed-upon 3,900. The dispute also centered around tickets meant for various HCA-affiliated clubs, with the association stating that 2,500 tickets were supposed to be made available for purchase but were withheld by SRH officials.
SRH, in its complaint to the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and the IPL governing body, has threatened to relocate the franchise from Hyderabad if the issue remains unresolved. The franchise has also sought the intervention of the Chief Minister’s Office (CMO), arguing that the matter directly impacts cricket fans in the state. SRH contends that excessive ticket demands by the HCA and its affiliated clubs would limit availability for the general public.
As tensions rise, all eyes are on the outcome of the inquiry ordered by the Telangana government. The findings could have significant implications for the future of IPL matches in Hyderabad and the relationship between SRH and the HCA.
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