BCCI disqualify three Mumbai U-16 players for being overage
The Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) was left embarrassed by the administrative error that saw the BCCI disqualify three of their U-16 players, including the captain, for being overage. This comes just a day after batting legend Sachin Tendulkar urged the association to crack down on age fraud.
Three players of the Mumbai U-16 team, currently in Anand to play its Vijay Merchant Trophy opener against Gujarat which began on Friday, were forced to return to Mumbai on the morning of the game as they were deemed overage by the BCCI match referee S Suresh. Skipper and opening batsman Jash Ganiga, all-rounder Jay Dhatrak, and leg-spinner Aman Tiwari were replaced by Harsh Salunkhe, leggie Nisarg Bhuvad and all-rounder Arjun Dani, at the direction from the selectors. The BCCI wrote to the MCA that these players were ineligible to play at the U-16 level anymore only a day after Tendulkar’s extensive speech on the same matter.
"When these boys underwent a BCCI-conducted bone test last year, their age was determined to be 15 years, eight months. As per that test, they weren't eligible to play in the BCCI's U-16 tournaments this season, as their age should be 16 years, eight months. This, however, seems to be an oversight by the administrators, rather than the fault of the players,” a source in the MCA told TOI.
"The concerned MCA officials should've informed the selectors about this. Why did these players end up being a part of the probables camp, and the Payyade Trophy, the under-16 tournament for selection, and finally the team? Imagine the plight of the boys, especially the captain, who had to return to Mumbai by train on the morning of the match," the source added.
"It was so embarrassing to receive this letter from the BCCI right after Tendulkar spoke to us extensively on this issue. We will investigate this matter fully. As per our decision against age fraud culprits, we may ban these boys from playing for Mumbai at the U-19 level also. They can now play only in the BCCI's U-23 tournament," another MCA official said.
Following a directive from the National Cricket Academy (NCA) director Rahul Dravid, the Board has launched a massive drive to tackle the problem of age fraud.
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