Cricketer, BCCI Referee Prashant Mohapatra dies of Covid

Bhubaneswar: Cricketer Prasanta Mohapatra, former Captain of the Odisha Ranji team and BCCI Referee, died in a hospital here while undergoing treatment for Covid. He was 47.

Sources said Prashant was admitted to AIIMS here along with elder brother Jasobant and his father renowned sculptor Raghunath Mohapatra on April 22 last.

Prashant's father Raghunath Mohapatra an architect, sculptor, and a nominated Member of Rajya Sabha who was awarded Padma Shri, Padma Bhushan and Padma Vibhushan died on May 9 last in the AIIMS hospital here.

The health condition of Prashant deteriorated last night and he passed away this morning nine days after the demise of his father.

Prasanta had made his Ranji Trophy debut for Odisha against Bihar in 1990 and had also played for the East Zone in the Duleep Trophy and Deodhar Trophy.

He had played 45 First class Matches, 17 List A Matches in his career and also officiated 48 First class Matches, 45 List A Matches, 49 T20 Matches as a Match Referee.

He was a Level-2 Coach of BCCI and had worked as a Batting Coach of Odisha Cricket Academy.

Odisha Cricket Association President Pankaj Lohan Mohanty, Secretary Sanjay Behera and other officer bearers of Odisha Cricket Association offered their condolences to the bereaved family and prayed the almighty to give immense strength to his family to overcome this personal crisis in their life. (UNI)