Hanuma Vihari's wait for NOC from Andhra Cricket Association ends

The ongoing dispute between Indian cricketer Hanuma Vihari and the Andhra Cricket Association (ACA) has taken a new turn.

After months of back-and-forth, the state cricket association has finally issued a No Objection Certificate (NOC) to Vihari, making way for him to potentially switch sides ahead of the upcoming domestic season. However, the cricketer expressed his frustration with the situation, stating the trouble he had faced in obtaining the NOC.

After a lengthy wait of two months, during which the ace batter claimed to have emailed the ACA four times requesting the NOC, the association finally issued the document.

"I have been asking for NOC for 2 months, mailed them 4 times. Didn’t give my NOC. Now that things have turned, they’ve issued my NOC immediately. lol," he wrote on X.

Also read: ACA issues show cause notice to Hanuma Vihari over allegations of politics within board

Hanuma Vihari was removed from captaincy of Andhra mid-season

The conflict between Vihari and the ACA arose when the cricketer was removed as the captain of the Andhra Ranji Trophy team after just one match last season. Vihari alleged that his removal was due to an incident involving a politician's son, who was the 17th player in the squad. The cricketer claimed that he had shouted at the player, and as a result, the ACA forced him to step down as captain.

In the aftermath of the incident, Vihari publicly criticized the ACA, stating that the association believed players should listen to whatever they say and that he had lost his self-respect. The cricketer vowed never to play for Andhra again and expressed his desire to switch associations.

Also read: Aakash Chopra backs Hanuma Vihari amid Andhra Pradesh captaincy row

The ACA, in response, issued a show-cause notice to Vihari, accusing him of making statements against the association and its office-bearers on social media and public platforms. The notice stated that if the senior player had any concerns, he should have brought them to the association's attention, ensuring a better solution.

Vihari had previously sought a move away from Andhra ahead of the 2023/24 season, with reports suggesting he wanted to join Madhya Pradesh. However, the ACA's actions and the subsequent delay in issuing the NOC further strained the relationship between the two parties.