Indus Valley Times

Sixes, Stumps and Glory: T20 Thriller Unfolds

By Shrikant Panda

Cuttack:  After festival time is over, Cricket extravaganza is going to grip the state as OCA is gearing up to host T20 international between India and South Africa at Barabati Stadium on 9^th of December. Youths in the state are in exuberant mood and eagerly waiting for the superlative performance of cricketers of both the countries. People expect India will dominate South Africa in this format as our Nation being the current world champion in this format. I believe it’s a story of grit and glory and Cricket is not just a sport, it’s an emotion. Spectators will definitely witness swashbuckling innings from frontline batters of both the countries and they will enjoy SKY’s batting prowess, his improvisation skill and new HIT-Man Abhisek’s aggressive approach at the beginning of the innings and accurate bowling from Indian seamers and spinners and viewers will boost our cricketers moral definitely and I believe our batters’ blitzkrieg will certainly floor South Africans in home turf. On December 9 evening spectators will feel on cloud Nine after end of the match.

IVT contacted OCA Secretary Sanjay Behera who is the illustrious son of eminent Cricket administrator Ashirbad Behera following the legacy of his father and he is determined to take OCA into new heights by hosting this T20 international match smoothly. Current OCA secretary is young, energetic, maverick and dynamic personality who is considered as trail blazer for the youth and everyone is optimistic that he will leave no stone unturned in organizing this international match effectively.

RENDEZVOUS WITH SHRIKANT PANDA

I met OCA Secretary Sanjay Behera in his office premises and asked plethora of questions and he answered all in a candid manner without any hiccups.

SP:   How State Government, Cuttack District administration and Police administration collaborating with OCA in hosting this international match?

SB: As you are aware of the fact that recently a high level review meeting was chaired by CM with regard to this match. State Chief Secretary, DG, CP, DCP, DM and other stake holders (Medical personnel, Electricity department, and Fire Brigade authorities) were present and all the nodal officers of each department will coordinate with their respective departments. In this connection CP and Cuttack DM has reviewed meeting in their respective level. Letter has been issued to CDMO and SCB to dedicate ward to sick spectators in case of emergency and ambulances will be provided with first aid treatment. We have an agreement with KIIMS to treat any players falling sick and they will provide ambulances and team of Doctors will be present in five places within stadium premises. CMC Chairman will also coordinate and collaborate with OCA and take all necessary action for the smooth conduct of the match. It’s a team work so every department is in sync with OCA and I appreciate their coordination.

SP: Do you mull to distribute food and water to spectators?

SB: OCA will provide drinking water to all spectators and food will be distributed to all viewers irrespective of galleries at reasonable price through vendors. Vendors have applied for distributing foods to spectators and we will select them at right time. Except this OCA will provide foods to its guest with great hospitality and I think everything will be done steadily.

SP: in the last ODI international power outage was evident and the match was delayed for half an hour and against this backdrop what steps you have taken to address this problem?

SB: Yes its being an important issues and we have taken precaution and we are taking utmost care to address this lacuna. We have eight flood lighting poll and we bought new 16 Gensets (each Genset having 200 KVA). We have installed Two Gensets having 400 KVA in each flood lighting poll which is much higher than requirement. We have hired software to run these Genets through central monitoring and skilled engineers have been employed to monitoring each poll and each poll will be provided with security personnel and they will be vigilant during the match and for strict surveillance, cameras have been installed and all polls have been kept within specific boundaries.

SP: What renovation or repairing work has been done for upgrading infrastructure in the light of T20 international?

SB: As you know this stadium is sixty years old and we have been engaging  in renovation and repairing work in a timely manner and  for this important match, toilets have been upgraded and we are filling carbon fiber in weak pillars and roofs to strengthen it. Stadium capacity was nearly 44,000 but as per request from CP we are reducing four to five thousand seats in the current scenario.

SP: Can you enlighten fire safety management?

SB: It’s an important aspect and we have kept all fire related things in our possession and fire brigade and their staffs will be wide awake in every stand and I am making my presence felt in every aspect of this important match.

SP: Prior to the last ODI international match against England we experienced scuffle and stampede like situation in getting offline tickets and in this context what steps you are taking to distribute tickets efficiently without any glitch?

SB: It’s worth mentioning that number of viewers are more than the number of tickets availability and in order to arrest such things CP and DCP reviewed comprehensively and they decided to put an iron barricade stretching up to one kilometer and vendor from Bhubaneswar has been selected to install the barricade as a result people will get tickets without any hiccups. Last time there was entry point and no exit point and that being the reason people faced inconveniences but this time we have been more alert and we will see both entry and exit point in offline counters.

SP: How the pitch will behave? Basically we see flat wickets are being used globally in T20 cricket and these pitches are good for stroke making for batters and spectators express wave of exhilaration and keeping that in mind what type of pitch is to be used?

SB: We have prepared two types of pitches, one is Red Soil and another is Black Soil. Pitch curator from Mumbai will be reaching here on 1^st of December and he will decide in which pitch match will be played.

SP: Do you engage private event management agencies for this international event?

SB: Yes we have engaged different agencies for event management. People can buy online tickets through District by Zomato platform and SBI was entrusted to sell offline tickets to public and except this other event management agencies have been assigned to take care of other events. OCA ropes in private event management agencies for specific services such as online ticketing or certain ground operations, but the overall management and execution are overseen by the association itself. 

SP:  Our players from Odisha are not getting chance to represent in national team and even they don’t find a place in IPL as no franchise is showing interest to buy them. In your opinion what they are lagging behind to stand with players playing in national side? Do you think they are lacking in talent and potential?

SB: I am providing best infrastructure and exposure to the players and they have to showcase their talent otherwise they can’t move forward. I observed they have no hungriness, competitive drive, motivation and desire to perform at highest level.  Recently I sent a 25 member of team comprising some under 19, under 23 and some senior Ranji players to Sri Lanka to camp there for a month and after returning they played Buchi Babu Cricket and Ranji matches. Now our Under 19 has archived tremendous growth and eligible to play knockout stage and Under 23 has improved a lot but performance of our senior men and women team is worrisome.  I am optimistic that we will prepare a fighting unit within three year time and they will excel definitely with the passage of time.