IPL 2025: Sunrisers Hyderabad Matches To Be Moved Out Of Hyderabad?

Tired of Hyderabad Cricket Association (HCA) members' continuous threats over complimentary tickets for the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 matches, Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) general manager Srinath TB wrote a scathing email to HCA treasurer CJ Srinivas Rao, even threatening to move all the matches out of Hyderabad.

The tiff is over the extra 20 complimentary tickets, which was provided to them in previous seasons but has not been the case this time around.

"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 stated in the e-mail, accessed by 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," Srinath alleged in the mail.

Further explaining the issue, Srinath wrote, "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 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."

Furthermore, the HCA representatives locked up the box on the day of the SRH vs Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) match, which further angered SRH.

"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 stated. 

"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 adds.

"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% of complimentary tickets across each stand," Srinath said.

"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."

HCA president Jagan Mohan acknowledged receiving the email and urged the secretary to resolve the issue quickly.

"There is an issue between HCA and SRH over 20 complimentary tickets. We are looking into the matter and will resolve it," he told TOI. 

"The secretary is trying to prevent an escalation. He is working on resolving the issue amicably, but it remains to be seen how the president responds to the crisis."