Ambati Rayudu appointed HCA cricket operations head

Ambati Rayudu has taken charge as Head of Cricket Operations at HCA. He aims for corruption-free cricket, merit-based selections, open trials, and professionalized operations. The ACS Unit, led by Justice Vijender, will ensure transparency and integrity in Hyderabad cricket

Hyderabad: Former India cricketer and ex-Hyderabad captain Ambati Rayudu has been named as Head of Cricket Operations of Hyderabad Cricket Association on Tuesday.

This announcement was made by the HCA Secretary M Jeevan Reddy in the presence of Rayudu this evening at Uppal Stadium.

Rayudu promised to give a new direction with emphasis on streamlining many aspects particularly ensuring fair selections in different age groups.

“I am a firm believer that cricket should be separated from the administration and all the other matters of the administration, Rayudu said.

“Cricket should be run by players. So, that is my job to look after players’ welfare, to make Hyderabad what it truly deserves to be, a powerhouse of Indian domestic cricket, one which produces a number of international cricketers,” he said.

“We have to produce a lot more in a similar amount of time.  And, my first priorities after joining here are corruption free cricket, zero tolerance towards corruptio . Our first and most fundamental commitment is to make cricket corruption free, Rayudu said.

“No exceptions, anyone found guilty will be reported to ACSU and also be reported to BCCI and they will be blacklisted.Let it be a player, let it be a parent, let it be a selector, let it be an umpire, each and every one. So this committee will make sure that selectors are also non-corrupt,” Rayudu said.

“Each individual will be fit based on the integrity and it will be a player’s first approach. Things that are in the pipeline are player contract system, that will be eventually be proposed to the Secretary sir as well as the Association on the lines of what the Mumbai Cricket Association has announced recently. So that is something that we are really looking to improve,” he said.

“And merit based selections and right people, obviously selectors chosen for integrity and integrity, transparent corruption free selection process, right coaching structure, independent study to slot the right people. No room for bias or favouritism.Operational excellence and transparency,” Rayudu added.

“We will modernize and professionalize our operations, cricketing operations, that is what I mean. Random allocation of umpires and scorers for league matches using software.There won’t be any human intervention in that,” he said.

“Performance reports will be generated for each individual’s work, that is selectors, that is umpires, that is every individual that comes under cricket operations.So there will be reports that will be done and these reports will be shared with HCA committees as well as if it is an umpire or a physio or a trainer, those reports will also be shared with HCA for their future reference,” he explained.

“We are also going to propose is centre of excellence which sir already has mentioned,” he said.

“And the most important thing and the biggest thing that I would want to bring back are open trials. They are mandatory because I have been selected from an open trial in under-13. That was my first entry into cricket. If not for an open trial I would have never played for Hyderabad,” he said.

“I am here to serve cricket.I am here to serve our players most importantly. I am here to bring Hyderabad cricket to where it truly belongs,” Rayudu said.

Anti-Corruption & Security (ASC) Unit of HCA will be chaired by retired Justice Pingle Vijender. The independent unit will monitor matches, probe corruption complaints, conduct education programs, and coordinate with BCCI ACU.  “Any conduct that compromises fairness will be dealt with firmly.”HCA is confident these steps will strengthen governance for an integrity-driven 2026–27 season,” Justice Vijender said.