Former MLA calls for dissolution of OCA following Barabati embarrassment

The recent floodlight failure at the Barabati Stadium in Cuttack has caused significant embarrassment for Odisha, prompting calls for immediate action. Former Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA), Prakash Behera, has called for immediate government intervention and voiced strong criticism against the Odisha Cricket Association (OCA).

During a press conference, Behera levelled serious allegations against the OCA, accusing it of entrenched corruption and irregularities. He has urged the state government to take decisive actions to dissolve and restructure the current board of the OCA.

Behera urged the state government to dissolve the current OCA board to restore transparency and accountability. He emphasised the necessity for greater accessibility to cricket events hosted at the stadium, advocating for an increased allocation of tickets to the general public.

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“Even a country like Pakistan is now laughing at us. The incident has made us a laughing stock. This has completely damaged the reputation of Odisha. Not only in India, we have become a laughing stock for people across the globe. The irony is that there are very low chances of now Barabati getting a chance to host any other match in the future,” the lawmaker stated.

The incident, which disrupted a key match, resulted in embarrassment for Barabati and unwelcome attention for Odisha on the global stage.

“There is massive fraud in online tickets and passes. A huge number of passes have been sold fraudulently. OCA employees have now become brokers of passes,” Behera further added.

“I am prepared to take this matter to court if necessary,” he declared, reinforcing his commitment to ensuring transparency and accountability within the association. Mr Behera's comments come amidst growing public discontent over the management of cricket affairs in the state, with many calling for increased transparency and fair practices.

No comments were received from the OCA authorities.