IPL 2024: Power Cut at Hyderabad Stadium Over Unpaid Bills Threatens IPL Match Between SRH and CSK

In what comes as an embarrassment for the Hyderabad Cricket Association (HCA), the Telangana state electricity department cut off the power to the stadium over non-payment of electricity bills.

The move to disconnect electricity came barely 24 hours before Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) host Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in an Indian Premier League match on April 5.

According to news reports and sources, the HCA owes the Telangana State Southern Power Distribution Company Limited an amount of INR 1.63 crore.

The state-run electricity board had issued several notices to the cricket body over the last few years, but the pleas have fallen on deaf ears. The electricity board had informed the HCA of the pending bills much before the IPL began, but the cricketing body had not taken any action.

The cricketing body had earlier approached the High Court with a plea to buy time to pay the pending bills, but it hasn’t been settled for several years now.

The power supply was cut off on April 4, when both SRH and CSK were in their practice routine on the eve of their IPL match. Stadium authorities restored the power supply through a generator, enabling the teams to continue their practice.

Given the electricity requirement on match days, it would be very difficult for the cricket association to arrange an alternate power supply for the entire stadium for the entire duration of the match.

However, according to sources, if the HCA can clear a part of the pending dues by April 5, the authorities have agreed to restore electricity.

The SRH vs CSK match commences at 7.30 pm on April 5.

Update: The electricity has been restored at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium after the electricity board gave one more day's time to the HCA to clear outstanding dues, keeping in mind the IPL match and the fans. Hence, the SRH vs CSK match will not be affected by a power cut.