Hanuma Vihari resignation: TDP says YSRCP pressured him to resign after spat with player whose father is party corporator

The TDP, in a statement on Tuesday, said that Vihari was pressured to resign after an altercation with his teammate Kuntrapakam Prudhviraj. “Prudhviraj complained to his father Kuntrapakam Narasimha, the YSRCP municipal corporator of the 25th ward from Tirupati who forced the cricketer to resign and leave playing cricket for the team altogether,” said senior TDP leader and national spokesperson Kommareddy Pattabhi Ram. “The issue between the two players took a twist when Vihari was pressured by Prudhviraj’s father. Vihari was subjected to relentless verbal abuse and humiliation, finally resulting in his decision not to play for Andhra ever again,” Pattabhi Ram said.

Vihari has been hounded out by the YSRCP, Pattabhi Ram alleged. “Even in the Andhra Cricket Association, Chief Minister Y S Jagan Reddy has put his henchmen. The president of the cricket association is P Sharat Chandra Reddy who is also accused in the Delhi liquor scam. So criminals who are close to Jagan Reddy are running the cricket association,” he claimed.

Earlier, Vihari said in his post, “I felt embarrassed but the only reason I continued playing this season is because I respect the game and my team. Sad part is the association thinks that players have to listen to whatever they say and players are there because of them. I felt humiliated and embarrassed but I have not expressed it out until today. I have decided that I’ll never play for Andhra Pradesh where I lost my self respect,’’ he stated.

Following Vihari’s statement, Prudhviraj also issued a statement on Instagram saying that whatever was said was false. “Whatever you guys heard is absolutely false, no one is higher than the game and my self-respect is much bigger than anything,” he said, adding that “personal attacks and vulgar language” were unacceptable.

The ACA said it would conduct a thorough inquiry into all the complaints.