Government of Odisha delivers show-cause notice to the Odisha Cricket Association (OCA) over Barabati Stadium's floodlight problem

The much-anticipated second India-England ODI at Barabati Stadium in Cuttack was marred by a floodlight malfunction, causing a brief interruption in the match and sparking a debate about the stadium's suitability for hosting high-profile matches.

During the seventh over of India's chase, parts of the field plunged into darkness due to the floodlight failure. A visibly frustrated Rohit Sharma, who went on to score a match-winning 119 off 90 balls, securing India's series victory, was seen shaking his head in disappointment.

The incident forced players off the field, causing widespread anger and embarrassment. The Odisha government, which has issued a show-cause notice to the Odisha Cricket Association (OCA) following the incident, is demanding a detailed explanation for the cause of the floodlight disruption and measures to prevent similar incidents in the future.

The backup generator was obstructed by a parked team bus, prolonging restoration efforts. OCA Secretary Sanjay Behera attributes the floodlight delay to a generator glitch. However, the State Sports Director, Siddhartha Das, has directed the OCA to identify the responsible persons/agencies and outline measures to prevent such incidents in the future.

The State sports minister, Suryabanshi Suraj, attended the match and assured accountability. The Sports and Youth Services Department has also demanded an explanation from the OCA within ten days. The name of the personnel responsible for preparing the games at Barabati Stadium in Cuttack is not publicly disclosed.

The incident has caused deep concern among sports fans and the people of Odisha. The Chief Minister, Mohan Majhi, attended the match with Suraj and has emphasized the gravity of the issue. Suraj has asked OCA sub-committees to clarify the exact cause of the delayed activation of the backup generator.

The online debate about Barabati Stadium's suitability for hosting international matches in the future continues, with questions being raised about the OCA's preparedness for such events. Despite Rohit Sharma's impressive performance, scrutiny over the stadium's infrastructure remains a concern. The deadline for submitting the findings is ten days upon receipt of the letter.

Government of Odisha delivers show-cause notice to the Odisha Cricket Association (OCA) over Barabati Stadium's floodlight problem