IPL 9: Barabati ready to host shifted ties

Bhubaneswar: The Odisha Cricket Association (OCA) yesterday said it is ready to conduct IPL matches shifted out of Maharashtra following a Bombay High Court order if the state government extends support.

"We have seven pitches at the Barabati stadium. As the U-19 matches are going on, the stadium is fully ready," said OCA secretary Asirbad Behera.

He, however, said the BCCI has so far not approached the OCA in this regard.

Replying to a question, Behera said the OCA would not request the BCCI to change the IPL venue to the Barabati Stadium.

"If BCCI asks us to organise a match here, we are ready for that. But no directive has been issued to us regarding this so far," he said.

The Bombay High Court yesterday directed the BCCI to shift all IPL matches after 30 April out of Maharashtra in view of the severe drought in that state.

Behera said, "The OCA can not conduct the IPL matches alone. We need full support of the state government to organise any national or international game here."

The OCA has earlier organised ICC Women's World Cup group matches involving Pakistan in 2013 when Pakistan's matches were shifted out of Mumbai due to protests by the Shiv Sena.

Though the Bajrang Dal and Kalinga Sena had issued similar threat opposing Pakistan's participation in the tournament, the matches were played without any difficulty here, an OCA official said.