Odisha Cricket Association (OCA) president Ranjib Biswal, you and treasurer Satya Narayan Mohanty have stepped down following the Supreme Court's direction to implement the recommendations of the Justice R.M. Lodha Committee. Now, there is uncertainty over hosting the India-England One Day International match at Barabati Stadium on January 19.

Our resignations will have no effect on the match. Around 90 per cent of the preparation has been done. Though we have quit, we continue to be members of the OCA. As a big match is going to be played here and the state's prestige is at stake, we will ensure that it is smoothly organised. 

The sale of tickets online has already begun and arrangements are in place for sale from counters on January 16 and 17. All counters will have point-of-sale machines to facilitate cashless sales. As for security arrangements, water bottles will not be allowed inside the stadium and the height of the net has been raised so that spectators will not be able to throw anything into the field.

You are the most well-known sports administrator in Odisha. You have headed the Olympic association as well. Now, you have had to quit from the OCA. Your son’s grip on the football association has loosened. Aren’t you worried that you and your family’s grip on the state’s sports bodies is loosening? 

No individual is above any organisation. If the organisation survives, we all will survive. Being a player, I wish I could do something better for sports. I never hanker after posts. After the Supreme Court made it clear that we would have to leave, we stepped down without a second thought. On many occasions, people have labelled charges against me out of jealousy. Now, I am a free bird and have nothing to repent.

2016 has been a year of controversy. The Supreme Court accepted the Lodha Committee recommendations. You were dragged to the CBI office in connection with the controversial Odisha Premier League (OPL) venture. 

A man who performs sometimes commits mistakes, too. Those who don’t do anything will never commit errors. They only criticise others. What could have I done? The Supreme Court wanted the recommendations to be implemented. In the case of the Olympic association, the Supreme Court had asked me to maintain distance from it and I did. 
Similarly, we had started the OPL to promote cricket. We did not have any idea that we would land in such a controversy. How would we know that a particular sponsor had earned money through dubious means and invested that money here? We don’t have any mechanism to verify that. But, I can tell you that had the OPL been continued, we could have identified talent from the grassroots level, which would have benefited the game.

Though the resignation may not have affected you personally, it will have repercussion on sports. Experience has no substitute. Don’t you think that it will have its impact on sports? 

To some extent, you are right. Experience cannot be replaced. At the same time, a man will gather experience only when he gets an opportunity to work. I did not find any difficulty in running the organisation as I used to get support from all quarters, including the government. It’s better to say that we do it...rather than I do it.

No one will challenge the Supreme Court’s verdict. But views can be expressed. Do you think the recommendations will benefit cricket?

I would rather say let the recommendations be implemented first. Earlier, people had seen how the BCCI worked and after the recommendations, they will see how it performs. When people see the two things, they will get a chance to compare. Then, we will know whether the recommendations have been beneficial or not. I would not like to jump to any conclusion.

We know that you have reservations about the recommendations. Please share your views... 

Yes, I do have some reservations. According to the recommendations, terms will be limited only to three years and people older than 70 years should not hold posts in sports administration. Let me tell you, it takes at least eighteen months to figure out how international matches are organised, how domestic sports are promoted and how we promote sports at the district level. You have to learn many things. If you have a tenure of three years, you will only get eighteen months to work. (According to the recommendations, no official can hold a seat for more than nine years in total. Each term will be limited to three years and every elected apex council member will have to undergo a cooling-off period of three years after each term). When the President and the Prime Minister can run the country after crossing 70, why cannot sports administrators?

You had roped in corporates to raise money for OPL. Then the issue of corruption surfaced. How can the sports body remain clean and thrive?

Don’t jump to the conclusion that sports bodies are not clean. The BCCI is the richest sports organisation in India. That’s why everyone has an eye on it. OCA’s case  is similar, it’s the richest sports body in Odisha. We pay crores in service tax and income tax. People often try to drag the organisation into controversy to serve vested interests. But, I can say we maintain a clean system of administration.  Take the OPL case — had we not maintained records regarding sponsors and how we spent the money, the CBI would have pulled us up. They examined the records and perhaps were satisfied.

Under-19 cricketers have come under the scanner for age fudging. Even one OCA administrator’s son was caught up in the row. What message does it send?  

It was not the case of Odisha alone. It had been reported from across the country. We used to believe the boys when they stated that they come under a certain age group. After the controversy, we asked them to submit affidavits regarding their age when they are selected for matches.

The state has produced results in art and culture and sports. But apart from hockey, cricket and women’s athletics, we have failed to produce world class players in other sports. Why is it so?

Lack of sponsorship is a reason. Even when the state organises international hockey matches here, it’s the government that is the major sponsor.

Do you think government support is adequate? As an administrator, what steps have you taken to ensure more sportspersons get jobs with the state government? It was only central government agencies that were providing jobs to players. 

Things have been changed now. The state government has been recruiting sportspersons.

You were considered close to former chief minister J.B. Patnaik once and also contested the Assembly polls on a Congress ticket twice. There have been speculations that you would join the BJD. Since you are now out of administration, will you consider joining politics?

Things are different now. You need money and muscle power to flourish in politics.

No one will believe that Ashirbad Behera does not have money and muscle. 

But why should I waste it in a field where I have already lost interest? I am happy with my current status.

Then why are you organising the state-level Yadav Sammilani (Yadav conference)?

The objective is to help them organise. I feel the community is deprived.

Last year, goons had hurled bombs at your residence. Do you feel there is a threat to your life?

I am a sportsperson, why should I fear death?  Death comes to you even when you stay inside your house.