Sunrisers Hyderabad(SRH) may reportedly leave Uppal Stadium, accusing HCA of harassment over free tickets and unprofessional behavior.
Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) may reportedly shift from the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium due to ongoing conflicts with the Hyderabad Cricket Association (HCA). According to The Times of India, the franchise alleged repeated harassment over ticket allocations, which has escalated in recent seasons.
SRH’s general manager reportedly raised concerns over intimidation from HCA officials. The dispute centers around 20 additional seats, leading to the locking of an audience box before SRH’s match against Lucknow Super Giants. SRH asserts it pays full stadium rent and controls the venue during the IPL.
Tensions have grown over the past two years, with the franchise accusing HCA of frequent threats. If unresolved, SRH might formally seek permission from BCCI and the Telangana government to relocate matches to another city.
“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,” Srinath stated in the e-mail, according to The Times of India. “We have been working with HCA for the last 12 years. Only from last season have we been facing constant issues and harassment from HCA,” the report quoted a mail by SRH’s general manager Srinath TB.
“Please note that we pay the appropriate rent for the stadium, and during the tenure of the IPL, the stadium is under our jurisdiction. But in the last game, you locked the F3 box, refusing to open it unless 20 extra free tickets were given to you. This unprofessional behavior creates a hostile environment, making cooperation increasingly difficult,” he stated. “Furthermore, we must highlight that this is not the first instance of such intimidation, threats, and coercion from HCA to our staff in the last two years. The HCA president has previously issued many threats this year, and it was brought to HCA’s notice,” the mail added.
SRH Seeks Urgent Meeting with HCA
Notably, SRH has also proposed a resolution to the ongoing conflict. The franchise suggested following the existing agreement, which grants HCA 10% of complimentary tickets in each stand. To address growing tensions, SRH has requested an urgent meeting with HCA’s apex council members.
“Given the constant threats, coercion and blackmailing by HCA, we suggest that we go as per the signed agreement between us, as per which we will allocate 10 per cent of complimentary tickets across each stand. In light of these developments, we formally request a meeting with the apex council members at the earliest convenience to discuss and resolve this matter,” the e-mail concluded.
