HYDERABAD: Employees of the Hyderabad Cricket Association (HCA) have raised a severe alarm over prolonged salary delays, following the freeze of the HCA bank account by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID). The freeze is part of an ongoing probe into illegal sale of IPL tickets by senior HCA officials, which has led to financial paralysis within the association. Around 300 members, primarily umpires, scorers, and ground staff — the backbone of cricket operations — have been directly impacted. In their representations submitted to the government, Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), and other agencies, they averred that they have not received salaries for over one month. Timely payments were only consistent during the tenure of former Justice Nageshwara Rao as administrator. However, since the new HCA body assumed charge two years ago, salaries have been routinely delayed. Talking to Deccan Chronicle, the affected employees detailed the hardships endured, including daily travel of 30 to 35 km across multiple grounds for matches, incurring out-of-pocket transport costs that they can no longer afford amid withheld wages. The HCA Staff and Employees Trade Union recently approached Justice Naveen Rao, the current HCA administrator, highlighting their plight. The staff described their treatment as "worse than slaves," underscoring the violation of labour laws including the Payment of Wages Act, and the Industrial Disputes Act. Delays of up to 25 days contravene legal deadlines, with non-payment constituting unfair labour practice and denying employees their Constitutional rights to dignity and livelihood. One of the HCA employees said that their families have been facing medical emergencies without financial support, children are denied schooling due to unpaid fees, while many employees endure hunger and mental trauma. One anguished staff member has even threatened self-harm if dues are not cleared immediately.