BCCI drawn into SRH-HCA dispute as IPL franchise alleges 'blackmailing'

Sunrisers Hyderabad SRH is contemplating shifting its home matches to another state due to ongoing tensions with the Hyderabad Cricket Association HCA The IPL franchise has accused the state unit of blackmailing tactics particularly regarding demands for additional complimentary tickets The development reported by news agency PTI has prompted SRH to seek immediate intervention from the Board of Control for Cricket in India BCCI and the IPL Governing CouncilExpressing serious concerns over HCArsquos alleged conduct a senior SRH official penned an email to the BCCI highlighting the recurring nature of the issue and urging swift actionldquoI write with serious concern regarding the ongoing developments with the HCA and their repeated blackmailing tactics towards the Sunrisers Hyderabad franchiserdquo the official statedThe email further stressed the need for clarity on the allocation of complimentary passes which is typically set at 5 per cent of the total stadium capacityldquoWe also seek clarification on the issue of complimentary tickets issued to the HCA by the franchise The President of the HCA Jagan Mohan Rao along with the TreasurerSecretary has been consistently threatening the Sunrisers Hyderabad management stating that he will not allow the IPL to take place in Hyderabad unless his demands are metrdquo the letter allegedThe SRH official warned that if the intimidation continued the franchise would have no choice but to relocate its matches to another venueldquoThis is an unacceptable abuse of power This issue was raised last year but unfortunately it is recurring again If necessary the matches should be moved to another state if the Hyderabad Cricket Association continues to threaten the franchiserdquo the official statedSRH also urged the BCCI and the Telangana government to step in and resolve the matter promptlyldquoI strongly urge the BCCI to issue an open letter to the Telangana CMO and address this issue publicly as it is a serious concern that directly impacts the franchise the fans and the integrity of the IPL as a wholerdquo the email addedHCA refutes allegationsIn response to the accusations HCA President Jagan Mohan Rao dismissed the claims asserting that the association had not made any such demands He also denied receiving any official communication from SRH managementldquoHCA did not receive any official emails from SRH management There is no truth in the news being circulated on social media and some websitesrdquo Rao stated in a circularThe HCA president further alleged that the controversy was a malicious attempt to damage the associationrsquos reputation and its relationship with the franchiseldquoIf emails are indeed received what is the conspiracy behind leaking that information from unknown sources instead of official HCA or SRH emails This is a malicious campaign by some people to tarnish the reputation of HCASRHrdquo he assertedUncertain future for SRHrsquos home matchesWith both parties standing firm on their respective positions the future of SRHrsquos home matches at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium remains uncertain Whether the BCCI or the Telangana government will intervene to mediate the dispute remains to be seen For now SRHrsquos threat to relocate its home fixtures casts a shadow over IPL 2025rsquos Hyderabad legWith PTI inputs