By Rohit - Feb 10, 2025 06:01 PM
The Odisha Cricket Association (OCA) has found itself in hot water after a floodlight failure disrupted the second One Day International (ODI) between India and England at the Barabati Stadium in Cuttack on Sunday night. The incident, which caused a 30-minute halt in play, has led to significant embarrassment for the OCA, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), and the Odisha Government. In response, the state government has issued a show-cause notice to the OCA, demanding a detailed explanation for the disruption and accountability for the lapse.
The floodlight failure occurred during India's chase of England's target of 305 runs. At the time, India was off to a strong start, with openers Rohit Sharma and Shikhar Dhawan putting up 48 runs in 6.1 overs. The malfunctioning of one of the six floodlight towers brought the game to an abrupt halt, leaving players, officials, and spectators in limbo for over half an hour. The interruption not only disrupted the momentum of the match but also raised questions about the preparedness and maintenance of the stadium's infrastructure.
Rohit Sharma, who was batting on 29 at the time of the break, went on to score a scintillating century (119 off 90 balls), guiding India to a thrilling four-wicket victory. However, the floodlight failure overshadowed what was otherwise a memorable night for Indian cricket fans.
The Odisha Government, which has been actively promoting sports in the state, took a serious view of the incident. Siddhartha Das, the director of sports and an IAS officer heading the Sports and Youth Services Department issued a show-cause notice to the OCA on Monday morning. The notice addressed to OCA secretary Sanjay Behera, demanded a detailed explanation for the floodlight failure and identification of the persons or agencies responsible for the lapse. It also sought a plan of action to prevent such incidents in the future.
"The Odisha Cricket Association is hereby directed to submit a detailed explanation for the cause of the disruption and identify the persons/agencies who were responsible for such lapses and outline the measures taken to prevent similar incidents in the future," the notice stated. The OCA has been given 10 days to respond.
Das emphasized the gravity of the situation, stating, "My mail is self-explanatory. We have asked the OCA to explain what caused the breakdown and what action they are going to take." The notice also highlighted the inconvenience caused to players and spectators, further underscoring the need for accountability.
The OCA, currently without a president, is led by secretary Sanjay Behera and CEO Subrata Behera, a former state player. While Behera was unavailable for comment, it is understood that the association is preparing its response to the notice. The OCA is affiliated with the BCCI, and it remains to be seen how the national cricket board will address the issue.
This is not the first time the Barabati Stadium has been in the news for the wrong reasons. In October 2015, the stadium witnessed unruly crowd behavior after India lost a T20 International (T20I) to South Africa. The incident forced the BCCI to seek a report from the OCA and take corrective measures. Despite hosting 25 international matches, including two Tests, 20 ODIs, and three T20Is, the stadium has often been criticized for its infrastructure and crowd management issues.
The floodlight failure has once again brought the spotlight on the need for better maintenance and modernization of cricket infrastructure in India, especially in venues hosting international matches. With cricket being a religion in the country, such lapses not only tarnish the reputation of the hosting association but also reflect poorly on the BCCI and the state government.
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