Sunrisers Hyderabad have threatened to maneuver out of Hyderabad and should not play their IPL 2025 matches on the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium, based on a report by Times of India. The 2016 winners alleged intimidation and blackmailing by the Hyderabad Cricket Association (HCA) officers at no cost tickets. The report added that SRH basic supervisor, Srinath TB, has written a letter to HCA treasurer CJ Srinivas Rao the place he has made it clear that the franchise will tolerate such behaviour.
“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 said within the e-mail, based on Times of India.
“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.
SRH have performed two matches at their house venue in Hyderabad within the ongoing IPL 2025.
“For several years, HCA has been allocated 50 complimentary tickets (F12A box) as a part of the 3,900 complimentary tickets. However, this year, you are claiming the capacity of the box to be only 30 and asking for an additional 20 complimentary tickets in a different box. When this was brought to our notice, we informed you that we shall discuss and come to a mutually amicable solution,” he wrote within the mail.
“Please note that we pay the appropriate rent for the stadium, and during the tenure of the IPL, the stadium is under our jurisdiction. But in the last game, you locked the F3 box, refusing to open it unless 20 extra free tickets were given to you. This unprofessional behaviour creates a hostile environment, making cooperation increasingly difficult,” he added.
The e-mail additional alleged that this isn’t the primary time that such an incident has taken place.
“Furthermore, we must highlight that this is not the first instance of such intimidation, threats, and coercion from HCA to our staff in the last two years. The HCA president has previously issued many threats this year, and it was brought to HCA’s notice,” the mail states additional.
“Given the constant threats, coercion and blackmailing by HCA, we suggest that we go as per the signed agreement between us, as per which we will allocate 10 per cent of complimentary tickets across each stand. In light of these developments, we formally request a meeting with the apex council members at the earliest convenience to discuss and resolve this matter,” the mail added.
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