The Hyderabad Cricket Association (HCA) has named Ambati Rayudu as its Director of Cricket Operations, tasking the former India batter with steering day-to-day cricket activity and strengthening the association’s development pathways. The appointment was approved by the HCA Apex Council, which said Rayudu will supervise cricketing operations, oversee development programmes, and work on improving overall efficiency within the HCA.
In a statement, the HCA highlighted Rayudu’s international experience as a key asset for the region’s cricket ecosystem. It added that his background is expected to offer a more professional perspective to Hyderabad cricket and help motivate the next generation of local players.
Rayudu, who is 40 years old and has played 55 ODIs and six T20Is for India, said he believes cricket should be kept distinct from day-to-day administration. He also stressed that the primary focus of his role will be player welfare and long-term growth for Hyderabad’s domestic structure. “Cricket should be run with players in mind,” Rayudu said, adding that his goal is to build Hyderabad into the kind of powerhouse it “truly deserves” — one that consistently produces international-level talent.
The announcement was made during a media interaction where Rayudu was joined by HCA president Amarnath and secretary M Jeevan Reddy. During the event, Rayudu outlined his early priorities, placing anti-corruption measures at the top of his agenda. “My first priorities after joining here are corruption-free cricket and zero tolerance towards corruption,” he said, before reiterating that the association’s most basic commitment must be to keep the sport free from wrongdoing.
He also made it clear that there would be no exemptions for anyone found guilty of breaching integrity standards. Rayudu said offenders would be reported to the ACSU and the BCCI, and that the guilty would face blacklisting. He added that the policy would apply broadly — “be it a player, a parent, a selector or an umpire” — and stated that the committee would also ensure selectors remain free from corruption.
Rayudu further indicated that he wants to introduce a player contract system. He pointed to a similar initiative recently announced by the Mumbai Cricket Association, saying it is among the plans being considered in Hyderabad. “Among the things in the pipeline is a player contract system, which will eventually be proposed to the secretary as well as the association — something the Mumbai Cricket Association has announced recently,” Rayudu said. “That is something we are really looking to implement.”
Wrapping up, Rayudu said his focus is on serving the game and the players first, while working to elevate Hyderabad cricket to the level it aims to reach. “I am here to serve cricket. I am here to serve our players, most importantly,” he said. “And I am here to take Hyderabad cricket to where it truly belongs.”
