Hyderabad : Chief minister Kiran Kumar Reddy has decided to return to his first love : Cricket. Kiran has a lot of political trouble on his plate but he surely keeps one eye on the scoreboard. The scoreboard of the Hyderabad cricket team, that is. Which is why, after the team suffered a humiliating string of losses, the the cricketer-turned-politician has told the officials of the Hyderabad Cricket Association that he will play once again for the team.
Last year, Hyderabad suffered the ignominy of getting all out for 21 against Rajasthan, the lowest ever total in Ranji Trophy history. And this year, it lost by an innings to Maharashtra, getting out for 54 in the second innings.
Sources in the Chief Minister’s Office told Tenali Rama that Reddy has set up nets at his home where he practises his batting every morning. “Remember his initials are KKR, the same as Kolkata Knight Riders,” pointed out one of his secretaries. “Besides, nothing can be more tough than facing the Telangana googly and Jagan yorker on a daily basis.”
Kiran who by virtue of being the CM, is also the chief patron of the HCA, has already sacked the selection committee. The team, Kiran said, will now be selected by him, in consultation with Ghulam Nabi Azad. “As the Union Health minister, Azad knows what it takes to put together a healthy team. Our slogan will be Azadi from defeat,” said Kiran.
When asked how he would fend off criticism that he is neglecting his job as CM, Kiran said, “All work and no play makes me a dull boy. Besides, most of my ministers do not work. Yet this state runs on auto pilot. Maybe if I play really well, I could be auctioned during the IPL and I could be playing 20-20 for Deccan Chargers. Wow, I am so charged up thinking of my future in cricket.”
Members of the self-styled Telangana cricket association have however, warned that they will not allow Kiran, who is from Rayalaseema region, to pad up for Hyderabad. “We will paint the sightscreen in pink colour instead of white or black to ensure Kiran cannot sight the ball and gets out to the first delivery he faces,” an activist said.
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