A couple of weeks ago Orissa Cricket Association announced the Orissa Premier League, a league which will help the talented players to reach to the national level and also help them in monetary front. When I heard about this big meaningful decision by OCA (Orissa Cricket Association), I jumped with joy. I thought the worst days of Odisha cricket will come to an end and there will be a lot of Odia cricketers in national level. My imagination of Orissa Premier League greatness vanished when I read about the auction.
Many players were auctioned and the one which was sold at the highest amount was Biplab Samantaray. He fetched some 4.6 lakhs and he will be part of Cuttack Barabati Tigers. Many players were unsold and some got less than a lakh for the assignment.
When I stared comparing with Indian Premier League I was lot embarrassed and imagined do the OCA members really want to help the state level players monetarily.
When we think about opportunity at national level, Orissa Cricket Association’s history tells the truth. In 40 years of its establishment, Odisha has only finger countable number of players at national level. In that sense also OCA failed to prove that they are really trying to help the state player.
It is high time for Orissa Cricket Association to make some serious effort, so that when next time we watch an International match, we can find some Odia guys playing in the team.