Shortly after Indian cricketer Hanuma Vihari expressed his decision to refrain from playing for Andhra in domestic cricket due to political interference that led to his resignation from the captaincy, the Andhra Cricket Association (ACA) has made allegations suggesting that the rest of the team members were coerced into signing a letter supporting Vihari.
Vihari disclosed the circumstances surrounding his resignation from the captaincy after Andhra's defeat to Madhya Pradesh in the Ranji Trophy quarter-final. He clarified that his decision was influenced by political factors rather than personal reasons. Vihari shared his statement on social media along with a photo showing signatures of his teammates endorsing his reinstatement as captain. However, ACA, according to a report by India Today, claims that the other players were compelled to sign the letter in Vihari's favor.
The ACA statement elaborated on the situation, addressing Vihari's request for continued representation of Andhra and emphasizing the importance of local players' opportunities. They also highlighted previous complaints about Vihari's conduct, alleging instances of using inappropriate language and creating a class divide within the team during the Syed Mushtaq Ali tournament.
Furthermore, ACA mentioned a proposal from the Senior Selection Committee Chairman for a new captain due to concerns about Vihari's form after the first Ranji Trophy match. They clarified that Vihari had agreed to abide by the decision of the selection committee, indicating that the association did not intervene in the matter.
ACA emphasized the need to separate politics from cricket and appealed to those who criticize the association based on Vihari's social media allegations.
Hanuma Vihari, who last played Tests for India in July 2022, began his domestic cricket journey with Hyderabad and later represented Andhra before briefly returning to Hyderabad and eventually settling back with Andhra.
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