Barabati India-England match embarrassment: Odisha govt to seek explanation from OCA

The Odisha government will demand an explanation from the Odisha Cricket Association (OCA) over the floodlight failure that disrupted the second India-England ODI at Cuttack’s Barabati Stadium on Sunday, halting play for 25 minutes, stated State Sports Minister Suryabanshi Suraj.

The Minster, who was present along with Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi and other senior ministers at the stadium, said, "An explanation will be sought from the OCA over the floodlight glitch. It happened despite taking all precautions and making elaborate prior arrangements by the OCA."

The said disruption occurred during India’s chase in the seventh over when one of the floodlight towers malfunctioned, plunging parts of the field into darkness. Onfield batsmen Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill were forced to leave the pitch, sparking frustration among players and spectators.

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The OCA attributed the failure to a technical glitch in the light’s generators. OCA Secretary Sanjay Behera admitted that the delays arose as a backup generator was being obstructed by the parked team bus during transportation. He also added that locating the driver of the bus further slowed the process.

Meanwhile, Congress MLA from Barabati-Cuttack Sofia Firdous, who was present at the stadium, condemned the glitch. "What happened at the Barabati stadium today is very unfortunate. An impartial investigation should be conducted," she said.

Despite the setback, Rohit Sharma silenced critics by smashing a match-winning 119 runs off 90 balls, marking his 32nd ODI century. After the match, his innings also drew praise from CM Majhi, who lauded both teams and fans.

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The OCA attributed the failure to a technical glitch but vowed to prevent future recurrences. However, the episode has raised concerns over infrastructure readiness at the iconic venue, casting a shadow on Odisha’s credibility as a host for high-profile matches.

(With inputs from PTI)