By The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has introduced new measures to combat age fraud in its Under-17 championships. These steps are part of a larger commitment to promote fairness and honesty in youth cricket.
Key Features of the New Rules
Strict Penalties for Age Fraud: Any player found to have submitted a forged or altered birth certificate shall be barred from playing in any BCCI or associated state unit cricket match for two years. After serving their punishment, these players will be permanently forbidden from competing in age-group events conducted by the BCCI and state associations.
Voluntary Disclosure Scheme: Players who have previously faked their date of birth may voluntarily declare their true date of birth without being suspended, as long as they do so within a stipulated time. This effort seeks to promote honesty among players.
Age Group Specific Regulations: For the Under-16 events, only participants aged 14 to 16 will be permitted to register. Additionally, Under-19 players whose birth registration comes more than two years after their actual birth date will be restricted from participating in subsequent tournaments.
Zero-Tolerance Policy: The BCCI has underlined its commitment to a zero-tolerance policy on age fraud. The organization has set up a dedicated helpline for reporting such irregularities, underlining the significance of keeping age-group tournaments legitimate.
These initiatives reflect the BCCI’s continued efforts to promote fair competition and guarantee that young athletes compete in age-appropriate categories.
