No so long ago, Orissa boasted as many as three Test or one-day internationals in its rank in Debasis Mohanty, Shiv Sundar Das and Sanjay Raul. But nowadays cricketers from the State are struggling to find a berth even in zonal team, let alone the National side.

* Stumper Haladar Das and batsman Payas Ranjan Sinha were included in the East Zone team for Deodhar Trophy tournament but were made to warm the reserve benches throughout. On the other hand, as many as eight from Bengal played for the zonal team.

* Earlier, in Duleep Trophy tournment, Orissa players found five places in the zonal squad, compared to seven by Bengal. This happened despite Orissa regaining its place in the Ranji Trophy Elite group and Bengal getting relegated to Plate division.

* No player from Orissa was also considered among probables for the National under-19 side, which went on to win the World Cup. Similarly, just one from Orissa (Haladhar Das) was contracted for the Indian Premier League (IPL).

* All these also happened despite National selector Ranjib Biswal belonging to Orissa.

* Ironically, Orissa itself ignored Paresh Patel for the Ranji team even though the promising all-rounder gave a good account of himself in the Challenger Trophy tournament.

* Orissa Cricket Association (OCA) secretary Asirbad Behera seems helpless in the matter even though he admits that players of the State have been denied their due by the National and zonal selectors.

"Regarding international opportunity, Orissa players are missing it by not faring well in crucial domestic matches. But at the zonal level, Bengal has been enjoying an undue advantage because the selection committee meetings are always held at Kolkata," said Behera.

He, however, assures that OCA would no longer tolerate the supremacy of CAB (Cricket Association of Bengal) in the selection process.

"OCA has requested the BCCI to rotate the venue of the zonal selection committee meeting and give all the member States the opportunity to convene it at their respective places," he said.

`Former Orissa coach Lalitendu Bidyadhar Mohapatra blames OCA for the shabby treatment meted out to Orissa cricketers. "Lack of infrastructure facility has always been a major hurdle on the path of producing quality cricketers. We don`t have enough turf wickets. Domestic tournament structure and selection process are faulty. Though OCA is earning in crores every year, it is spending very little for development of facilities all over the State," he points out.

Overall, the general feeling is that cricketers of the State deserve a better deal. "Debasis Mohanty and Shiv Sundar Das are still good enough to play for the country. Stumper Haladhar Das, all-rounder Paresh Patel, batsman P R Sinha and speedsters Deepak Mangaraj, Alok Mangaraj and Basant Mohanty also have the potential to join the big league. OCA should project them properly before the selectors," opined a former State captain.