3 
IdentityThe people of Hyderabad were introduced to cricket by the British Army. Around 1880 cricket started to take roots in the city. Mr.N.Ganesan , erstwhile Joint Secretary of Hyderabad Cricket Association (HCA) traced origins of serious cricket in the city by interacting with S.M.Hadi, S.R.Mehta, Nooh Abbasi, cricketers and organizers of yesteryears whose peers were the originators of the game in the city.
Before the Moin-ud-dowla Gold Cup 1930/31 there is no record of any first class cricket at Hyderabad. Raja Lochan Chand was reported to be the first chief patron of the game in late 19th century and early 20th century and Masood Ahmed, Ahmed Ali, Nazeer Baig and Khurshid Baig were few cricketers to distinguish themselves.
