Cuttack: In the backdrop of the Covid-19 pandemic situation, the Odisha Cricket Association (OCA) is waiting for the necessary approvals from the State government for hosting the mega Odisha Cricket League (OCL) T20 tournament.
OCA Secretary Sanjay Behera on Tuesday said, “We have sought permission fro0m the Odisha government and trying to get the necessary approvals from the Sports department for hosting the mega cricketing event.”
Behera said OCA has planned to conduct the Odisha League-T-20 from December 14. Already preparations have begun for successfully hosting the event without spectators.
The cricketing activities will be conducted in a ‘bio secure bubble’ while following the BCCI and other COVID-19 protocols of the State government, said the OCA official.
Earlier OCA had stated that the selection committee of Odisha Cricket Association has 168 cricketers who will be called for trial matches based on the performance in Vision 2024 Intra Club Tournament & BCCI matches.
The OCL T-20 League will involve the best 84 players from Odisha who will split into 6 teams. The players will be scouted from trial matches likely to be held from December 5.
The Odisha Cricket Association has signed a memorandum of understanding with sports marketing and management firm TCM for conducting the Odisha Cricket League T20 tournament.
The TCM has been closely working with IPL, ICC World Cup, Khelo India, ISL etc. They have already conducted T-20 leagues in Assam, Andhra Pradesh, Jharkhand, Puduchery, Bengal (ongoing) & Kerala (scheduled to be held on December 17, 2020).
“We have a data base of 7000 players who have registered with us. We hope all the new players will be given due prominence as per their merit in the upcoming sporting events in the State,” Behera added.