Ranji Trophy: Andhra batsman Hanuma Vihari has lashed out at the Andhra State Cricket Association following his teams disappointing loss to Madhya Pradesh in the Ranji Trophy quarterfinals held in Indore on Monday.Vihari, who had initially led the team in their opening match against Bengal, stepped down from his captaincy role after the first league game. Ricky Bhui was appointed as the new captain. Why was Hanuma Vihari removed from captaincy In the wake of Andhras elimination from the tournament, Vihari publicly criticized the state association, alleging that he was unjustly removed from the captaincy position due to an incident involving another squad member. He said ASCA removed him from captaincy after he allegedly shouted at his fellow team member, who is the son of an influential politician. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Hanuma vihari (@viharigh)What did Hanuma Vihari allege Heres what Hanuma Vihari posted on his Instagram post:Despite our teams valiant efforts, we fell short in the recent quarter-final against Andhra. This loss comes with a heavy heart, marking another close defeat in this competition.I want to share some background information. I served as captain during the opening match against Bengal. Unfortunately, an incident involving a substitute player and his influential family member led to an unjustified demand for my removal from the captaincy. This decision came despite our teams commendable chase against a formidable opponent, last years finalists.Despite the lack of any wrongdoing on my part, I was forced to resign. While I never engaged in any personal attacks, the association prioritized the players position over my commitment and contributions to the team. These contributions include playing for India in 16 Tests, leading Andhra to five knockout appearances in the past seven years, and even batting left-handed to strengthen our lineup.Although I initially felt ostracized, my love for the game and loyalty to my team motivated me to continue playing this season. However, it is disheartening to see the association view players as mere pawns and disregard their dedication.The experience has left me feeling humiliated and disrespected, prompting a difficult decision – I will no longer play for Andhra. While this departure is painful due to my love for the team, it is the only way to preserve my self-respect.Who is the player whom Hanuma Vihari referred toKuntrapakam Prudhviraj is 24 year old wicketkeeper batter, who represents Andhra Pradesh. Notably, he hasnt played any Ranji matches and is yet to make his debut. Response by Prudhvi Raj to Hanuma Vihari.Andhra Cricket is turning into a box office. pic.twitter.com/F0TZMIKfbi— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) February 26, 2024In response to the allegations, Prudhviraj KN posted on his Instagram, No one is above the game, and my self-respect is much more bigger than anything. Furthermore, he wrote, Everyone in the team knows what happened that day. Play your sympathy games however you wantThe Andhra State Cricket Association has yet to respond to Viharis allegations.
