Why No Locals In Hyderabad IPL Team, Asks Azharuddin

Following the conclusion of the IPL 2021 auction that was held in Chennai recently, former captain of the Indian cricket team Mohammed Azharuddin slammed the management of the Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH), and expressed serious displeasure at it for not picking any Hyderabad-based players for the team.

The former captain took to Twitter to air his criticism of the team's managers, and wrote, "Very disappointed not to see a single player from Hyderabad in the Hyderabad Sunrisers Team (sic)."

He pointed out that unlike the Hyderabad-based team, teams representing other cities and states, like the Mumbai Indians, had given local players the opportunity to grow and play by picking them for the high-profile tournament.

While Azharuddin's tweet did go viral, it was not because fans and other Twitter users endorsed his views. Instead, most were seen flaying the cricket legend for his "dismal" work as Hyderabad Cricket Association President.

At the auction, the SRH, which had only three vacant slots to be filled to complete its 2021 team, secured the services of off-spinner Jagadeesha Suchith, batsman Kedar Jadhav and Afghanistan leg-spinner Mujeeb-ur-Rahman.

Under-19 left-hander for the Indian team, Thakur Tilak Verma, who made his cricketing debut as part of the Hyderabad team in the 2018–19 Ranji Trophy tournament, was also reportedly left disappointed as he was not picked by any of the eight teams.