In a significant shift, the Odisha Cricket Association (OCA) is facing internal friction regarding its long-overdue leadership elections. President Pankaj Lochan Mohanty has filed an affidavit before the State High Court effectively breaking away from the association’s previous strategy of delaying the polls. While the OCA had previously argued that the impact of the new National Sports Governance Act, 2025, required legal clarity before proceeding, Mohanty is now pushing for the election process to move forward immediately.
The controversy stems from the fact that the leadership team—comprising secretary Sanjay Behera, treasurer Bikash Pradhan, and president Mohanty—has remained in their respective roles for over six years. This duration violates constitutional term limits, which stipulate that an office-bearer cannot hold a position for more than two three-year terms. Previously, the OCA had cited recommendations from the Union Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, which suggested postponing sports body elections until December 2026, as a justification for their continued tenure.
However, Mohanty’s latest affidavit marks a stark reversal of that position. He emphasized that the OCA cannot maintain a stance contrary to the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI). He stated, “The Odisha Cricket Association cannot take a different stand contrary to the stand taken by the BCCI, in as much as the stand of the BCCI is in conformity with its Memorandum of Association and Rules and Regulations.” He warned that any deviation from these governing documents would jeopardize the state association’s membership status and critical financial grants, adding, “I stand with the BCCI.” The report also notes that “Any deviation from the Memorandum of Association and Rules and Regulations of the BCCI would render the membership as well as grant from BCCI at peril in terms of Rule 3 (b) (I) and Rule 3 (b) (3) of the Memorandum of Association and Rules and Regulations of BCCI.”. The report also notes that in particular it quoted the Union Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports recommendation seeking postponement of elections to sports bodies until December 2026. The report also notes that when contacted, Mohanty reiterated his stance. “On my behalf my lawyers have submitted in the court that we cannot go against the BCCI. The report also notes that the BCCI gives us the grants and we risk being denied the funding and derecognised,” he told. The report also notes that mohantry’s affidavit has dwelt on the Sports Act too. “…it was clear that no State Cricket Association of the Country comes under the purview of the National Sports Governance Act, 2025. The report also notes that the BCCI in its Counter Affidavit has categorically stated that even though the National Sports Governance Act, 2025 has been enacted, the sport of Cricket has not been notified as a “designated sport” for the said National Sports Governance Act, 2025.
