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New openings
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The opening of the new stadium should inspire Hyderabadi cricketers to aim big and achieve more, writes V.V. SUBRAHMANYAM
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Shivlal Yadav takes a closer look at the pitch of the new stadium, in Uppal — Photo: Mohd. Yousuf
SHIVLAL YADAV as a Test cricketer always dreamt of playing in front of home crowd in Hyderabad but never really realised it as the ambitious, stadium project took its own time to get underway. Now, as the secretary of Hyderabad Cricket Association, the former national selector has every reason to be on cloud nine as the first phase of grand new Uppal cricket stadium is nearing completion which will host the three-day match against the visiting South Africans in November.
The opening of the stadium will also be an occasion for the HCA, finally, to showcase its facility to the world.
But at the back of mind, the grim scenario of dipping standards of Hyderabad cricket continue to haunt Shivlal Yadav.
Shivlal was sincerely hoping better performance from the Hyderabad team in the Moin-ud-Dowla Gold Cup tournament.
One wished a good start before a demanding season that could have pleased the officials governing the sport too. What with the BCCI deciding to pay close to Rs. 40,000 to the players for each Ranji match, some accountability and a change in attitude were expected from them. But that was not to be. The poor performance of Hyderabad against Cricket Association of Bengal in the semi-final on their `own' turf at Gymkhana Grounds was something, which cannot be brushed aside. The batting was deplorable to say the least as in both the innings the total did not cross 150.
In recent times , most of the former Test cricketers have been commenting that the Hyderabadi Ranji players never really dream big. There has been none after Laxman who's been considered for the Indian team. Unfortunately, Hyderabad cricketers give an impression that they are happy to play just for Ranji Trophy. One of the critical reasons attributed to this growing tendency is the selectors reluctance to be tough with those non-performing and ageing players. Generally, selection is done by reputation and not consistency and consequently some of the gifted youngsters like left-arm spinner Indra Sekhar Reddy were constantly forced to wait in the wings during Ranji matches
The performances of the second string players in the same Moin-ud-Dowla are equally disturbing. But, that some of them like medium-pacer M.P. Arjun do have natural talent cannot be disputed. So essentially, what these young players look for is moral support and the feeling that they will be the players to watch and can rely upon.
Will the selectors do anything dramatic to convey a message that there is going to be no place for pretenders, who score once in a while to continue in the team? Will the new stadium inspire the Hyderabadis to come out with a telling performance in the coming season? Will Hyderabadi players change their attitudes? These are the big questions.
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