Odisha cricket body to elect office bearers by November end

Cuttack: The Odisha Cricket Association (OCA) today announced that it will hold elections as per the Lodha Committee recommendations and appointment of new office bearers will be completed by end of November

The State cricket body has taken the decision in its council meeting held here and all were agreed to go ahead with the polls as Supreme Court appointed panel.

“We have accepted the Lodha Committee recommendations and we will file an affidavit in the Supreme Court in a day or two. Elections for various office bearers posts will be completed by November,” OCA Working Committee Chairman Dhiren Palai told reporters after the meeting.

He also informed that, this time, we will have one president and one general secretary unlike earlier there were multiple general secretary posts in the OCA.

Sources said the OCA has sanctioned a budget over Rs 4 crore for the forthcoming India – Sri Lankan International T20 at Barabati Stadium on December 20.

The election holds importance as the Supreme Court had directed that Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) can’t provide funds to state cricket bodies until they hold elections.

The OCA had cancelled many cricketing events including Ranji Trophy matches and district level tournaments citing fund shortage.

Notably, as many as 173 office bearers of OCA had resigned in January after the BCCI implemented Justice RM Lodha Committee’s recommendations, mandated by the SC, to bring reforms in cricket administration.