India-NZ T20 match: Will Hyderabad cricket administrators avoid repeat of Sep 2022 fiasco?

Hyderabad: Ghost of September 2022 fiasco has returned to haunt cricket lovers as Hyderabad braces up to host India-New Zealand T20 match on January 16. The match will be played at the Rajiv Gandhi International Cricket Stadium, Uppal. What is worrying cricket fans is September 2022 fiasco. Nearly 20 members were injured due to the haphazard planning by the Hyderabad Cricket Association.

To avoid a repeat of September 2022-like situation, ticketing process will be handled by a Supreme Court-appointed committee. It consists of Justice Nisar Ahmad Kukru, Director General of Police Anjani Kumar, and Cricketers Vanka Pratap and Venkatapati Raju. The committee was constituted by former Chief Justice N V Ramana

However, the committee is facing serious internal issues. Justice Kukru's letter citing unilateral decisions without his consent has given the credence to the reports of the conflict within the committee.

Another interesting fact is that both cricketers on the committee are facing corruption charges. While Venkatapati Raju is accused of corruption in Hyderabad Cricket Association (HCA), Vanka Pratap is facing heat for a partisan selection process.

These issues are now worrying cricket fans. "I hope the January 18 match at Uppal is not a repeat of September," said a fan.

What happened in September 2022?

India- Australia T20 match was held at Rajiv Gandhi International Cricket Stadium, Uppal, In September 2022. As many as 20 cricket fans were injured and a couple of them fainted when the crowd at the Paytm counter went berserk.

Hyderabad police resorted to minor lathicharge to bring the crowd under control. Traffic was thrown out of gear on September 22.

The stampede-like situation at Gymkhana ground was allegedly the result of mismanagement, lack of planning, and coordination between the HCA, Paytm, and the local police. The sale of tickets online began on September 15. However, it was conspicuously stopped within 10 minutes. Later HCA announced that tickets will be sold at the Paytm counter in Gymkhana Grounds, Secunderabad. Paytm was Hyderabad Cricket Association's contractor.

What followed was total chaos. Cricket fans began gathering at the Gymkhana stadium in the wee hours. No queue discipline and coordination were maintained.

Later, Begumpet police booked HCA for cheating and negligence: