15-Jun-2007 74
Orissa Cricket Association (OCA) may take credit for increasing the number of domestic tournaments and coaching camps in the State but the move seems to be promoting business and political interests more than that of the players.
Conducting all these activities at one place OCA is also depriving other places of the State their rightful claim.
This year, the inter-district under-15, under-17, inter-school and inter-club tournaments, involving around 200 matches, were all held at different grounds in Cuttack. The city is set to host at least 100 matches more as the year’s inter-district under-19, senior (Kalahandi Cup) and women’s tournaments will be held there as well.
Besides the inter-district events, OCA staged an additional tournament each for schools and clubs of Cuttack city. With Cuttack District Athletic Association and a leading city club organising their own inter-school and inter-club tournaments during the period it turned out to be a deluge of matches in the Millennium City.
On many occasions the city teams played two matches in a day. This seemed a clear case of discrimination by OCA as other places of the State did not get the chance to host a single official match during the period.
The inter-district tournaments did not prove to be much helpful for players as the matches were made to be 20-overs-a-side affair and were played on matting wickets. ‘‘This format did not allow players to display their true potential as they were forced to be ultra aggressive in batting and as defensive in bowling,’’ pointed out a former eminent cricketer, requesting anonymity.
‘‘It also denied players the scope to prepare themselves for longer-version matches they would be required to play at zonal and national levels,’’ he added.
OCA spent huge money to conduct these tournaments but a lion’s share of it went to a particular catering and accommodation providing firm. According to inside sources, the firm, belonging to a relative of OCA secretary Asirbad Behera, received around Rs 1 crore for the purpose last year. Food alone cost around Rs 80 lakh!
Observers of the game view the additional tournaments for Cuttack-based schools and clubs as a ploy by OCA to please these institutions and win their votes for the elections coming up next year.
‘‘OCA should take its activities to all parts of the State instead of confining these to just one place. Similarly, domestic tournaments should serve the interest of players, not businessmen,’’ suggested a former State captain.
When contacted OCA secretary Behera said: ‘‘Lack of infrastructure facilities, including turf wickets, accommodation and age-verification unit at other places compelled the State body to conduct domestic tournaments at Cuttack.’’
Regarding 20-overs-a-side matches, his explanation was: ‘‘We are conducting shorter-version games mainly during preliminary rounds. All semifinals, finals and trial matches for selection of State teams are being played on days-basis and on turf wickets.’’
On the issue of providing additional concessions to Cuttack-based teams, he said: ‘‘They are our founder members and according to OCA constitution are eligible to enjoy the privilege. OCA is giving them annual grants and it is the duty of association to conduct special tournaments for them.’’ (Courtesy The New Indian Express)
