Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) has taken a bold step after alleged intimidation, blackmailing and harrassment from Hyderabad Cricket Association (HCA), including president A Jagan Mohan Rao over free tickets for home matches. SRH have threatened that they will have a word with the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and move out all their matches in the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025.
As per TOI, SRH's general manager Srinath TB wrote a letter to HCA treasurer CJ Srinivas Rao highlighting all the issues in the mail.
"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 wrote.
"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," he added.
Srinath further explained that SRH give HCA a total of 3,900 complimentary tickets for every game including 50 in the F12A box. Srinath alleged that HCA is claiming that only 30 can fit in the box now. In addition, they have demanded 20 free tickets in another box as well.
However, the issue took a different turn when a box was locked up by HCA representatives during SRH's clash against Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) on March 27. SRH reminded HCA that they pay the rent for the stadium during the IPL and a box (F3) cannot be locked in its entirety if the franchise chooses not to give 20 extra complimentary tickets. SRH has alleged that such incidents have become common in the last couple of years.
SRH have requested a beeting with the apex council members to resolve the ongoing issue. HCA president Mohan also said that the state association is looking to resolve the matter.
SRH's next home match is against Gujarat Titans (GT) on April 6.