Chandigarh cricketer found guilty of age fraud, may face 2-year ban
In a major embarrassment, one of the U-19 cricketers registered with the Union Territory Cricket Association (UTCA), Chandigarh, has been caught tampering with his age-proof certificates. According to sources, as many as three players came under scanner when the UTCA officials were handed over two certificates mentioning two separate dates of births of the accused players.
After an inquiry, the matter was forwarded to the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), which found one player guilty for committing the ‘age fraud’. The matter pertaining to the other two players is still pending with the authorities, claimed a top source.
This is perhaps one of the few incidents reported in the past where local players have been caught committing ‘age frauds’ by tampering with the age-proof documents.
“It was brought to our notice by someone that one player (name withheld) has submitted a wrong birth certificate. We confronted him and he agreed to it. Hence, he was replaced by a standby player,” claimed a UTCA official, asking for anonymity.
The player found guilty is now likely to face a ban of at least two years by the BCCI. “As per the BCCI rules and regulation, if a player is found guilty then he will be punished with a complete ban from Indian cricket for at least two years. Some parents approached the UTCA officials with all proofs and the investigation started thereafter,” added one of the officials.
The surprising finding also revealed loopholes in the UTCA’s screening committee. Before selecting and registering the players under the UTCA’s umbrella, a thorough check-up of all documents is completed by the screening committee.
“This is why the local players should be given preference. The players coming from other stations easily tamper with their age-proof documents, which has come to notice quite a few times earlier also. There should be a proper check by the authorities and also action should be initiated against the educational intuitions, which induct such defaulters as their registered students,” said Atish Kapoor, a parent.
