Cricketer Ambati Rayudu has appealed to Hyderabad Cricket Association (HCA) President Mohammed Azharuddin to not get into a personal tussle with him and isolate himself from "seasoned crooks."
In a tweet on Saturday, Rayudu had urged Telangana's Municipal Administration and Urban Development (MAUD) Minister KT Rama Rao to look into alleged corruption in the HCA. When asked to respond to Rayudu's comments, Azharuddin was later quoted as saying that Rayudu was a "frustrated cricketer".
In response, Rayudu took to Twitter again on Sunday, stating, "Hi @azharflicks let's not make it personal. The issue is bigger than us. We both know what's going on in HCA. You have a god-given opportunity to clean up Hyderabad cricket. I strongly urge you to isolate yourself from the seasoned crooks. You will be saving generations of future cricketers (sic.)."
Hi @azharflicks let's not make it personal.da issue is bigger dan us.we both knw wats goin on in hca.u hav a god given opportunity to clean up hyd cricket.i strongly urge u 2 isolate urself from da seasoned crooks.u wil b savin generations of future cricketers. #cleanuphydcricket
— Ambati Rayudu (@RayuduAmbati) November 24, 2019
Rayudu's earlier tweet had come a day after he took a break from playing first-class cricket for Hyderabad.
"Hello sir @KTRTRS, I request you to please look into and address the rampant corruption prevailing in HCA. How can Hyderabad be great when it's cricket team is influenced by money and corrupt people who have numerous ACB (Anti-Corruption Bureau) cases against them which are being swept under the carpet," Rayudu had tweeted.
This was Rayudu's first tweet after his social media outburst after the 2019 World Cup squad selection when all-rounder Vijay Shankar was chosen over him.
The cricketer also opted out of the Ranji Trophy team this season, stating that he wanted to play for the Hyderabad team, but added that there was "a lot of politics in the team" which was "not conducive for good cricket".
Rayudu announced his exit from all formats of cricket and retired midway during the World Cup, but a few months later, went back on his decision and said that he is open to playing national cricket as well as in the Indian Premier League.