Lifeline to players if they admit to age fraud

New Delhi, August 3

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has adopted a voluntary disclosure scheme to tackle the menace of age and domicile fraud in cricket in the country. The additional measures approved by the BCCI will be applicable to all cricketers participating in the BCCI age-group tournaments season 2020-21 onwards.

Any player submitting fake/tampered birth certificate will be banned for two years from all cricket matches under the aegis of BCCI and state units. After completion of the two-year suspension, such players will not be allowed to participate in age-group tournaments of BCCI, and also age-group tournaments organised by states.

Players who commit domicile fraud will be banned for two years. The disclosure scheme does not apply for cricketers who have committed domicile fraud.

BCCI president Sourav Ganguly said, “We are committed to providing a level-playing field across all age groups. The BCCI has been taking steps to counter age fraud and are now introducing even stricter measures from the upcoming domestic season.”

Rahul Dravid, who has been working with India’s junior and developmental teams over the last few years, supported the move.

“Age fraud is a serious matter and is detrimental to the health of the sport,” said Dravid, who also heads cricket operations at the National Cricket Academy in Bengaluru, adding: “Many youngsters who are supposed to be playing in a particular age group fail to make it owing to age fraud. With the BCCI taking stern actions to curb this, it is only advisable for the players to come forward and abide by the directives issued by the Board.” — TNS, agencies