Hanuma Vihari mocks Andhra Cricket Association as board issues NOC after TDP's landslide victory in elections

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Hanuma Vihari, who was awaiting his No Objection Certificate (NOC) from Andhra Cricket Association form the last two months, mocked the board for releasing the letter immediately after Telugu Desam Party (TDP) returned to power in the state with a landslide victory in the assembly and Lok Sabha elections.

Notably, a controversy had erupted after Hanuma Vihari alleged that he was removed from Andhra captaincy under political pressure. In an Instagram post in March, Hanuma Vihari had alleged that he was forced to step down from captaincy for shouting at a player whose father is a politician. He slammed ACA for disrespecting his contributions, and vowed never to play again for Andhra Pradesh.

The India international immediately asked for a NOC and expressed his intention to play for a different team in domestic cricket. Talking to ESPNcricinfo in March, he had also refuted reports that he hadn't responded to a show-cause notice from the state board.

Election Results effect? Hanuma Vihari gets his NOC after two-month wait

The 30-year-old finally got his NOC on Tuesday, June 4 - the day TDP won with a landslide margin in Andhra Pradesh Assembly Elections 2024. TDP and their alliance partners BJP and Jana Sena Party are leading in over 150 out of the 175 assembly constituencies in Andhra Pradesh.

Ruling Yuvajana Sramika Rythu Congress Party (YSRCP) led by Chief Minister Jagan Mohan Reddy has been reduced to 12 seats. TDP (16), BJP (3) and JNP (3) have also joined forces to win almost 23 of the 25 Lok Sabha seats on offer in Andhra Pradesh.

Hanuma Vihari took on X to congratulate TDP and JNP, before sending the screenshot of his NOC. "I have been asking for NOC from 2 months, mailed them 4 times. Didn't give my NOC. Now that things have turned, they've issued my NOC immediately. lol," Vihari wrote alongside the screenshot of NOC dated June 3, 2024.

"Letter date was yesterday's mail was sent after result!" Vihari added. The NOC was sent to Hanuma Vihari on mail at 3:16 PM on Wednesday from ACA secretary Gopinath Reddy.