The people of Hyderabad were introduced to cricket
by the British Army. Around 1880 cricket started to
take roots in the city. Mr.N.Ganesan , erstwhile Joint
Secretary of Hyderabad Cricket Association (HCA) traced
origins of serious cricket in the city by interacting
with S.M.Hadi, S.R.Mehta, Nooh Abbasi, cricketers and
organizers of yesteryears whose peers were the originators
of the game in the city.
Before the Moin-ud-dowla Gold Cup 1930/31
there is no record of any first class cricket at Hyderabad.
Raja Lochan Chand was reported to be the first chief
patron of the game in late 19th century and early 20th
century and Masood Ahmed, Ahmed Ali, Nazeer Baig and
Khurshid Baig were few cricketers to distinguish themselves.
Oxford University Authentics that toured
India in 1902/03 season was the first foreign team to
visit and play at Hyderabad. As the matches they played
at Hyderabad were not deemed first class cricket, there
is no official record for reference.
The game was gradual to gain popularity.
In the 1920s & 30s, quadrangular tournaments
between the Hindus, Muslims, Europeans and Parsees were
instrumental in popularizing the game amongst the masses
throughout the country and Hyderabad was no exception.
Despite appeal of Mahatma Gandhi to end communal polarization
in sport the Quadrangular/ Pentangular tournaments continued
to thrill masses till 1947 and popularized the game
of cricket encouraging youngsters to take-up the sport
seriously.
At Hyderabad Educational institutions
like Nizam's College, Medical College, Madarsa-I-Aliya
also pioneered the cause of cricket by encouraging it
amongst the students. Nawab Moin-ud-Dowla, Maharaja
Kishan Pershad, Nawab Salar Jung Bahadur patronized
the game and initiated tournaments for schools, educational
institutions and clubs. Private Clubs like HUCC and
SUCC, formed by cricket enthusiasts became prominent
and cricket leagues were established.
Thanks to the patronage and efforts
of Nawab Moin-ud-Dowla, first class cricket came
to Hyderabad in 1930/31 with Moin-ud-dowla Gold
Cup. Three teams participated in the tournament.
They were Hyderabad, Maharaj Kumar of Vizianagaram
XI and Nawab of Moin-ud-Dowla XI. The people of
Hyderabad witnessed world class players for the
first time in Jack Hobbs
and Bert Sutcliffe (English Test Stars)
along side a number of famous players from Indian
First Class Circuit in CK Nayudu, Wazir Ali, JG
Nalve, Amar Singh and Naoomal Jaoomal who went
on to represent India in its first ever test match
at Lords against England in the summer of 1932.
In 1933/34 MCC under the captaincy
of Douglas Jardine toured India to play 3 test
matches. On 25th Jan 1934 MCC played at Hyderabad
against Nawab of Moin-ud-Dowla XI on Gymkhana
Grounds. MCC was the first official overseas touring
team to play at Hyderabad and present world class
cricket to its people. Hyderabad witnessed the
performance of Hedley Verity, the slow left arm
orthodox spin bowler of MCC, a veteran of 40 test
matches, claiming 5/63 in the first innings and
3/78 in the second innings of the drawn match
at Hyderabad against star studded Nawab of Moin-ud-Dowla
XI, which included Mushtaq Ali, Lala Amarnath
and CS Nayudu the debutants of 1933/34 test series
against England.
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Jack Hobbs & Bert
Sutcliff opened
at the Inaugural Moin-ud-Dowla Tournament 1930-21
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Thanks to the patronage of Nawab Moin-ud-Dowla
Bahadur and the tournament, the general standard of
the game improved tremendously producing many promising
cricketers.
In the year 1934 Ranji Trophy National
First Class Cricket Championships were being initiated
in India. There was a need for local officiating body
to imbibe organization into Hyderabad Cricket. In April
1934 Hyderabad Cricket Association was formed by Nadir
Shah Chenoy, DN Dittia, Ganesh Rao, Hussain Ali Khan,
S.Ali Raza, Mahmood Hussain Khan, P F Durrand, Dattatriya
and Rangannah. They elected Nawab Turab Yar Jung as
its first President and S.M.Hadi as Secretary.
Thus from 1934 till date Hyderabad
Cricket Association has been the custodians of the game
of cricket and keepers of sacred code in Hyderabad and
Telangana districts.
Under several eminent personalities
the Hyderabad Cricket Association blossomed into an
effective governing body and nurtured the sport of cricket
efficiently within its domain by creating ample vistas
for cricketers and their dreams of national & international
glory.
Despite the misfortune of not having
an exclusive international standard cricket venue the
management at HCA continuously lobbied at BCCI to expose
the citizens of Hyderabad to international cricket.
They were successful in organizing the following international
matches in the city.
- 10 Test Matches
- 18 One Day Internationals including World Cup Matches
- 24 FC matches against visiting Foreign Teams.
Hyderabad Team has the rare distinction
of participating in each and every Ranji Trophy Tournament
since its inception and performed credibly by wining
the trophy twice (1937-38 & 1986-87) and reaching
finals 2 times, semifinals 16 times. This fact portrays
the Level of governance at HCA and the standards imbibed
into the Sport.
1937-38 Hyderabad Team - Ranji Champions
In the 21st century, thanks to the
efforts of Mr.N.S.Yadav, Hon.Secretary at HCA ,2000-09,
Hyderabad now boasts of an exclusive state-of-the-art
cricket venue which hosts international matches in
style befitting the great game of cricket at par with
any venue of international repute, anywhere in the world.
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