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Four First Class cricketers of Hyderabad have appealed to the PCB Chairman Lt-Gen Tauiq Zia to appoint an ad hoc committee for Hyderabad as the office bearers of Hyderabad Division Cricket Association were committing excesses against deserving and outstanding cricketers of Hyderabad because of their petty differences with different clubs' representatives, who were against HDCA.

They said that HDCA officials, Yar Mohammad Solangi and Abdul Majeed Sheerani have made a mess of cricket in the city therefore they should be removed and an independent and impartial set-up should be announced to look after the cricket affairs.

Addressing a news conference at the press club on Thursday, Hyder Raza, Feroze Khaskheli, Yunus Kaimkhani and Sheeraz Jamali explained how the HDCA officials were victimising the cricketers who did not agree with them.

They said that the cricketers who did not play even district level cricket had been inducted in the squad for Grade-II matches. Feroze Hussain Khaskheli, who was declared best batsman of inter-district cricket championship, organised by district sports committee, told journalists that he had represented Hyderabad in Quadi-e-Azam Trophy Grade-I matches in 1999-2000.

He added that HDCA's secretary Majeed Shirani objected aginst him saying that he had played from Sukkur in 1998 so he could not be included in Hyderabad side. "I was asked by Mr.Majeed Sheerani to bring NOC from Sukkur and only then he would be allowed to play", Khaskheli quoted Majeed having said.

He added that under the playing conditions any city could include four guest players in its team. "My only disadvantage was that I was the member of NAC gymkhana which had been raising voice against the injustices of HDCA", Khaskheli said.

Another budding cricketer, Hyder Raza, who belongs to Afzal Sports cricket club, accused the HDCA officials of resorting to third degree tactics adding that he was among 25-probables of Hyderabad for Grade-II matches and was attending the camp regularly. "One day after practice session was over Haleem Hyder, a henchman of HDCA officials, asked me to complete four round of the ground.

When I inquired reasons, I was asked to leave the ground immediately with a message that I would not be able to play cricket in future from Hyderabad", a dejected Raza, the only left arm leg spinner who had claimed 18-wickets in last Grade-I matches, told newsmen when HDCA was under suspension and an ad hoc body was working. He claimed that he had emerged as an all-rounder against visiting UAE's team and also claimed a 7-wicket haul against Larkana in Grade-II match.

He said that Majeed Sheerani told him that if he was ready to quit Afzal Sports CC which was anti-HDCA then he would be provided enough opportunities to play in the team.

Another cricketer, Arif Sabir, who also claimed to be victim of HDCA officials and was declared the best wicket keeper in the inter-departmental tournament and inter district cricket championship, said that he was not even considered for inclusion in the 25-probables of Grade-II matches.

The cricketers said that the previous ad hoc body had given Rs100 as daily allowance and cricket kits to the players but the HDCA was giving only Rs75/- to the players and added Solangi and Sheerani were running a Sindh Coaching Academy on commercial basis.

They said that not a single cricket tournament was organized by the association which used to get Rs24000 for each four-day match.

They charged HDCA with the induction of over-aged players in the U-19 tournament while giving instance of one Zoha of Mirpurkhas. "Gen Zia HDCA officials are misguiding you", they said.

They pointed out that Imran Naseer, who had captained Hyderabad last year in Grade-I matches and Shahid Kambrani were taken to Lahore for training.

They claimed that Imran Naseer had not been picked to play a single match in Grade-II so far for inexplicable reasons.

Similarly, they said, Ayaz Taifi who had scored 600 runs in Grade-I last year was thrown out on the basis of his poor performance in an innings.

Faisal Khanzada, the only off spinner was also ignored. "We appeal to PCB Chief Tauqir Zia, that on the pattern of Islamabad an ad hoc body should be appointed for Hyderabad to look after the cricket affairs", they asserted.

© Dawn