Image Credit- PTI
After being “humiliated” by the way the
Andhra Cricket Association (ACA) has treated him over the years, Hanuma Vihari
has made the decision to “never play for Andhra” again.
He revealed this shortly after Andhra’s sad four-run loss to Madhya Pradesh in
Indore ended their hopes of making it to the Ranji Trophy semi-final for the
first time. With a spirited 55, the highest score in their second innings,
Vihari had spearheaded Andhra’s chase of 170. With 522 runs in 13 innings at
the end of the Ranji season, he tied Ricky Bhui for second most for Andhra
after scoring 902 runs.
Vihari said in an Instagram post that he was made to
resign as captain after Andhra’s January first-round match against Bengal. He
had given personal reasons at the time for the decision, but on Saturday he
acknowledged that political meddling was actually the real reason the
association had taken “action” against him.
“I was captain in the first game against Bengal,
and during the game, I shouted at 17th player, and he complained to his dad
(who is a politician),” Vihari wrote. “His dad in return asked the
association to take action against me. Although we chased 410 against last
year’s finalists Bengal [for a first-innings lead], I was asked to resign from
captaincy without any fault of mine.
“I never said anything on a personal note to the player, but the
association thought the player was more important than the guy who gave his
body on the line last year and batted left-handed, took Andhra to the knockouts
five times in the last seven years and played for India in 16 Tests.”
Vihari said he had been “humiliated and
embarrassed” in the aftermath of the episode, but carried on playing under
Bhui as Andhra secured the second spot in Group B with three outright victories
in seven matches.
“I felt embarrassed but the only reason I continued playing this season is
because I respect the game and my team,” he said. “Sad part is
association thinks that players have to listen to whatever they say, and
players are there because of them. I felt humiliated and embarrassed, but I’ve
not expressed it until today.”