State body resists BCCI directive, citing new Sports Act and Olympic inclusion

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and its state affiliate, the Odisha Cricket Association (OCA), are locked in a legal battle over the conduct of elections to the state unit, with the dispute landing before the Odisha High Court amid sharply differing readings of the Lodha Committee rulings, the National Sports Governance Act, and whether cricket administration amounts to a public or private function.

BCCI warns of withheld funds and derecognition

The BCCI has taken a firm position, insisting that the OCA must conduct its elections or risk losing its funding and, in the longer term, its membership of the national board. In an affidavit filed before the State High Court, BCCI senior manager (legal) Melinda Colaco stated: "...it's imperative that the Odisha Cricket Association should hold its election immediately," adding that no office-bearer can hold office consecutively for more than two years and must uphold the spirit of the judgement of the Supreme Court of India. "...else it will be in violation of Odisha Cricket Association's own bylaws, BCCI's MoA and directions of the Hon'ble Supreme Court...," the affidavit states.

The BCCI intervention was triggered after Lalitendu Bidyadhar Mohapatra, a former Odisha cricketer and coach who previously stood in OCA elections, filed a petition in the court seeking elections to be held. The petition argues that failure to comply with the Lodha provisions makes an association disentitled for a grant under the BCCI's Memorandum of Association, and warns that continued non-compliance over a continuous two-year period could lead to derecognition as a member. "The directions of Supreme Court of India are binding on the Odisha Cricket Association," the petition asserts.

OCA defers elections twice since October 2025

The elections, which were due in October 2025, have been postponed twice. The OCA has cited the provisions of the National Sports Act and submitted to the court that its general body passed a resolution requiring the impact of the National Sports Governance Act, 2025, to be assessed first — particularly given that cricket has been included as an Olympic sport for the 2028 Games in the United States.

"However, by a majority of vote/opinion, the Election was deferred to assess the impact of National Sports Governance Act 2025, more particularly in view of the fact that Cricket has been included as Olympic Sport for the forthcoming Olympic Games to be held in the United States of America in the year 2028," OCA secretary Sanjay Behera submitted before the court. He pointed to a central government circular deferring elections of national sports federations up to December 31, 2026, as a transitional measure.

The OCA held two Special General Meetings — on August 31, 2025, and February 22, 2026 — at which it resolved to postpone the election. The first deferral was to ensure smooth conduct of the December 9 T20I between India and South Africa, while the second followed the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports recommendation. President Pankaj Mohanty, secretary Sanjay Behera and treasurer Bikash Pradhan have held their positions since October 2019.

BCCI counters: Cricket not yet notified under the new Act

The BCCI, however, disputes the grounds for deferral. "Even though the National Sports Governance Act, 2025, has been enacted, the sport of cricket has not been notified as a designated for the National Sports Governance act, 2025 to apply," the BCCI affidavit says. The parties have also debated in their affidavits and counter-affidavits whether the administration of cricket and the conduct of elections amount to the discharge of a public duty, with the BCCI citing the Supreme Court to argue that it "discharges important public functions and is therefore amenable to writ jurisdiction."

The next hearing is scheduled for Thursday, August 27.