Odisha Sports Department Issues Show-Cause Notice to OCA Over Floodlight Failure at Barabati Stadium

Bhubaneswar: The Odisha Sports Department has issued a show-cause notice to the Odisha Cricket Association (OCA) following the floodlight failure that disrupted the India-England ODI at Barabati Stadium, Cuttack. The department has sought an explanation from OCA, questioning how such a major technical lapse occurred despite prior preparations for the international match.

The match was interrupted for nearly 30 minutes during India’s innings due to the unexpected failure of one of the floodlights. The delay not only inconvenienced the players but also disappointed the thousands of spectators who had gathered to witness the high-stakes encounter.

Expressing concern over the incident, the Sports Department has asked OCA to submit a detailed report within 10 days, addressing the reasons behind the failure and the steps taken to prevent such occurrences in the future.

The floodlight malfunction has raised serious questions about OCA’s preparedness in hosting international matches. Barabati Stadium, which has a long history of hosting top-level cricket, now faces scrutiny as this incident has led to widespread criticism and embarrassment for Odisha’s cricket administration.