Picture Credit: BCCI/IPL
The Hyderabad Cricket Association (HCA) and the Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) have reached a mutual agreement over their disagreement regarding the allocation of complimentary tickets for the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 matches at Hyderabad’s Rajiv Gandhi International Cricket Stadium. On March 30, the SRH lodged a complaint to the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and IPL Governing Council to step into the matter and address what the former described as “blackmailing tactics” by the HCA. SRH also threatened to shift their home games to another venue if HCA didn’t refrain from its blackmailing tactics.
During the Sunrisers’ match against Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) on March 27, both parties confronted each other after the HCA locked one of the corporate boxes and also refused to unlock it unless the state body was handed 20 extra complimentary tickets. Eventually, SRH accepted HCA’s demands but its General Manager, Srinath T.B penned a letter to the HCA Treasurer on March 29, stressing whatever happened is threatening to move the franchise away from Hyderabad if HCA officials continue their unruly attitude.
SRH and HCA reach an agreement
Taking note of these incidents, HCA Secretary R. Devraj convened a meeting with SRH officials at the Rajiv Gandhi International Cricket Stadium. Kiran, Saravanan, and Rohit Suresh held discussion on behalf of SRH. SRH emphasised on following the existing tri-party agreement among the franchise, HCA, and BCCI, ensuring that 10% of available stadium capacity across all sections should be allotted accordingly.
In turn, HCA also proposed maintaining the existing distribution of passes in all categories, which is getting followed for a long time. Eventually, the category allocation of 3900 complimentary passes to HCA won’t be touched while the association has ensured that it will coordinate with the franchise professionally.
