IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE FOR THE STATE OF TELANGANA HON’BLE SRI JUSTICE NAGESH BHEEMAPAKA WRIT PETITION No. 35135 OF 2025

20.02.2026 Between:

Sahebzada Azmath Ali Khan & another ….. Petitioners And The State of Telangana, Rep. by its Principal Secretary, Youth Services & Sports, Hyderabad and others ….. Respondents

O R D E R:

The case of Petitioners is that Petitioner No.2 -

Deccan Arsenal Cricket Club, is an affiliated member club of Respondent No.4 - Hyderabad Cricket Association. Petitioner No.2 is a registered society under the Societies Registration Act, bearing Registration No.540 of 2014. The Hyderabad Cricket Association is itself a registered association under the A.P. (Telangana Areas) Public Societies Registration Act, 1350 Fasli, bearing Registration No.207 of 1961, governed by its registered bye-laws. It is stated that the offices of Respondent Nos.2 and 3 are situated at Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium, Uppal, Hyderabad.

1.1. It is contended that Respondent No.2 is the Apex Council/Managing Committee of the Hyderabad Cricket Association represented by its Secretary, and Respondent No.3 is the Chief Executive Officer of Respondent No.4 Association. Petitioner No.2 is a General Body Member club of the Hyderabad Cricket Association and has been regularly participating in league matches, knockouts, Annual General Meetings, Special General Meetings and all other tournaments, affairs, meetings, functions, activities and matches conducted or organized by the Hyderabad Cricket Association.

1.2. It is pleaded that owing to repeated interference by the respondents in the internal management and affairs of member clubs, several clubs were constrained to approach this Court by filing writ petitions against Respondent Nos.2 to 4. This Court, by orders dated 28.04.2023 in WP No.12651 of 2023, dated 01.08.2022 in WP Nos.26831 of 2022, 26842 of 2022 and 26840 of 2022, granted relief to such clubs, thereby enabling them to secure their rightful opportunities. Petitioners assert that such judicial intervention demonstrates a pattern of interference by respondents necessitating recourse to writ jurisdiction.

1.3. It is also contended, during the league season 2024-25, petitioner club itself was constrained to file WP No. 19252 of 2024, wherein interim direction as prayed for was granted, thereby permitting petitioner club to participate in two- day leagues, knockouts, Annual General Meetings or Special General Meetings, other meetings, functions, activities, matches and tournaments conducted or organized by the Hyderabad Cricket Association and the BCCI. The said order was duly complied with by respondents and the said Writ Petition was thereafter, closed.

1.4. It is contended that for the season 2025-26, petitioner club participated in league matches conducted by the Hyderabad Cricket Association from 02.07.2025 to 02.09.2025. Thereafter, no matches were conducted. Though the Hyderabad Cricket Association informed all clubs through SMS that the remaining matches would be rescheduled, such rescheduling occurred after a gap of 43 days. During the interregnum of 43 days between the first schedule and the rescheduled matches, respondents conducted matches for Under-16, Under-19, Under-23 and Ranji categories and selected various teams to represent the State on behalf of the Hyderabad Cricket Association. Due to such selections, players who were not selected lost interest in continuing league participation, resulting in their unavailability to play or participate in further match, on behalf of petitioner club.

1.5. Petitioners stated that the Hyderabad Cricket Association issued Notification dated 26.06.2025 for B Division 2-Day League Championship 2025-26. As per Rule 3(C)(a) of the said Notification, each club is permitted to register a maximum of 18 players and a minimum of 12 players were required to be registered on or before 12.07.2024. As per Rule 3(C)(b), remaining players could be registered up to 24 hours prior to the mat