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[Saba Sports News] Hanuma Vihari chose to leave Andhra’s cricket team after an incident involving a team member during the Ranji Trophy 2024 match against Bengal. Vihari admitted to reprimanding a teammate, who then sought his politically influential father’s intervention. Subsequently, the Andhra Cricket Association (ACA) relieved Vihari of his captaincy.
The cricket community has rallied around Vihari following this controversy. Robin Bist, a fellow cricketer and Vihari’s friend, defended him in an interview, questioning why Vihari was being singled out despite his integrity.
The ACA issued a statement countering Vihari’s claims, accusing him of past misconduct and asserting their commitment to treating all players fairly. They detailed an incident where Vihari allegedly insulted a player during a game, which led to an official complaint. The ACA also disclosed that they had considered appointing a new captain due to Vihari’s uncertain availability for the season and mentioned previous complaints of team discord.
Furthermore, the ACA revealed Vihari’s requests for a No Objection Certificate (NOC) to play for other states, which he later retracted, apologizing for his outbursts. The ACA promised a comprehensive investigation into the complaints and to announce their findings soon.