OCA ready to host two Deccan games

Cuttack, (PTI) - The Orissa Cricket Association (OCA) welcomed the Indian Premier League authorities' decision to hold two matches in Cuttack and said it is prepared to host them.

"We received a communication about the decision to allot two IPL matches on March 19 and 21 at the Barabati Stadium in Cuttack. We are extremely happy over the decision and welcome it," OCA Secretary Ashirbad Behera told PTI.

He said functionaries of IPL and Deccan Chargers are scheduled to visit Orissa and inspect the Barabati stadium on February 20.

"They are likely to discuss matters relating to arrangements required for the two matches during their brief visit," Behera said adding that OCA is fully prepared to host the important events.

"We are always in a state of readiness. The stadium is ready and our people will have to gear up for certain arrangements," the OCA secretary said.

Meanwhile, The shifting of two home matches Deccan Chargers from Navi Mumbai to Cuttack by the League organisers was welcomed by the Hyderabad-based franchisee.

"The decision to move two matches from Navi Mumbai to Cuttack, which is our territory, is acceptable to us," said Deccan Chargers Chairman V Shankar while reacting to the decision of the IPL.

"In fact the proposal to have matches in our catchment area came from us," he said.

However, PTI has learned that the IPL Governing Council decided to move back Deccan Chargers' all home matches back to the state of Andhra Pradesh in case situation improves on the Telengana issue.

Originally the matches were to be held in Hyderabad and Visakhapatnam, barring the opening tie between Deccan Chargers and Kolkata Knight Riders on March 12 at the D Y Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai before the IPL shifted all other matches too outside the state citing the Telengana agitation.

But the legal notice issued by Deccan Chargers to the Cricket Board, that owns IPL, yesterday, that threatened to drag the BCCI to the court as well as skip the March 12-April 25 event, resulted in the shifting of two matches to Cuttack from Navi Mumbai.