The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) urged the Orissa High Court to direct the Odisha Cricket Association (OCA) to hold its long-delayed elections. The board has also clarified that the National Sports Development Code does not currently apply to cricket, as the sport has not been notified as a “Designated Sport.”
The BCCI filed the affidavit in response to a petition by OCA council member Lalitendu Bidyadhar Mohapatra and Cuttack-based Sunrise Club. The petition challenged the indefinite postponement of the OCA elections, scheduled for October 2025, but were delayed amid uncertainty over a proposed state sports bill.
BCCI Clarifies National Sports Development Code Does Not Apply to Cricket
BCCI senior manager (legal) Melinda Colaco filed an affidavit after Justice Savitri Ratho directed the board to respond. The BCCI said that Parliament’s passage of the National Sports Development Code does not automatically bring cricket under the code.
The Central Government must first notify cricket as a “Designated Sport.” Until then, the BCCI and its affiliated state associations will continue to follow the board’s Constitution and the directions issued by the Supreme Court.
Notably, the BCCI said the current framework limits an office-bearer to 3 terms, or 9 years, in an administrative position. The Constitution also allows an office-bearer to serve only 2 consecutive terms, or 6 years. After completing 2 consecutive terms, the official must serve a 3-year cooling-off period.
BCCI Urges OCA to Hold Elections Without Further Delay
The BCCI has urged the Odisha Cricket Association (OCA) to follow its existing constitutional rules and conduct elections without further delay. The board warned that allowing office-bearers to continue beyond their permitted terms could affect the OCA’s official recognition and membership within the BCCI.
The BCCI said that the OCA must hold timely elections and follow its own by-laws, the BCCI Memorandum of Association and the directions issued by the Supreme Court. Notably, the board stressed that any further delay could amount to a violation of these rules and directions.
The BCCI also clarified that the Supreme Court’s directions remain binding on the OCA. The association must comply with the existing administrative framework to retain its official membership and recognition within Indian cricket.
OCA Election Delay Follows February General Body Meeting
The Odisha Cricket Association held a special general body meeting on February 22, 2026, and decided to defer the election process. Notably, the association linked the delay to the proposed state Sports Bill and chose to wait for clarity before moving ahead with the polls.
The last full OCA elections took place on October 28, 2022. Pranab Prakash Das became president, while Sanjay Behera was elected secretary. After Das resigned, Pankaj Lochan Mohanty became the new president unopposed on February 15, 2025.
The matter will now return to the Orissa High Court. Justice Savitri Ratho has scheduled the next hearing for August 27 after the BCCI filed its affidavit. The hearing could bring more clarity on the delayed OCA elections and the BCCI’s position on the National Sports Development Code.
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