Bhubaneswar: Senior BJD leader Pranab Prakash Das has resigned as the president of Odisha Cricket Association (OCA).
The former Jajpur MLA was elected to the post unopposed on October 28, 2022, and his 3-year tenure was to end in October 2025.
Addressing a presser, OCA general secretary Sanjay Behera on Sunday informed that association vice-president Pankaj Mohanty will shoulder the responsibility of OCA president till the elections are completed in 45 days. “Das quit the president post citing some personal reasons The elections to the post will be held after the international cricket match,” he added.
Barabati Stadium in Cuttack will host an One-day International between India and England on February 9, 2025, after a gap of over five years.
A change of guard was expected in sports organisations, which were headed by politicians of the then ruling BJD, after the BJP formed its maiden government in the state. Debasish Samantray tendering his resignation as president of the Football Association of Odisha (FAO) in July was the first sign of this change.
Since then, there had been speculation that Das would also quit his post in the cricket association. The equations between Das and Sanjay had also soured after BJD fielded Prakash Behera from Cuttack-Barabati from where the latter was keen the contest the elections.
