The age-group tournaments are undeniably full of raw talent. There are international age-group tournaments like Under-19 and Under-23 that help fledgling cricketers thrive and warm-up for the senior international arena. While, to fans and followers of the game, these tournaments present a glimpse of their country’s cricketing future.
Although cricket is often called the ‘Gentleman’s Game,’ the culture surrounding the sport has changed a lot in the years. It hasn’t been just about sledging and cheating on the field, there have been several cases of match-fixing and age fraud, in the history of the game, ruining the reputation of the game and its legends within it.
Let’s have a look at the list of five Indian cricketers who falsified their age documental, to play age-group tournaments.
5 Indian cricketers who were banned by BCCI for age-fraud
1. Prince Ram Niwas Yadav
BCCI: Prince Ram Niwas Yadav acquired multiple birth certificates to gain undue advantage in BCCI age-group tournaments. After completion of his 2-year ban, he is only allowed to participate in Senior Men's Cricket tournaments.
— ANI (@ANI) December 2, 2019
Prince Ram Niwas Yadav, the Delhi cricketer, was banned from domestic cricket for two seasons by the BCCI (Board of Control for Cricket in India). Yadav was found guilty of falsifying age in the under-19 tournaments.
Yadav was registered with the Delhi and District Cricket Association (DDCA) and was banned in December 2019. He was disqualified from participating in the 2020-21 and 2021-22 domestic cricket seasons.
According to the BCCI’s search action, Yadav’s actual birth date was 10th June 1996, but the cricketer submitted documents showing the birth date of December 12, 2001.
An email sent to the DDCA by the BCCI said, “Prince Ram Niwas Yadav (Player ID 12968), a player registered by DDCA in the U-19 age group category in 2018-19 season and re-registered in 2019-20. As per the recently issued birth certificate submitted by the cricketer, his date of birth is 12th December 2001. Acting on a complaint received about the cricketer being over-age, the BCCI checked his records with the Central Board of Secondary Education and it was found that Mr. Prince Yadav has passed Class X in 2012 and his actual date of birth is 10th June 1996.”
2. Rasikh Salam
Rasikh Salam, the third cricketer from Jammu Kashmir to be picked in the Indian Premier League (IPL), was found guilty of forging his age. Salam was part of India’s squad for the Under-19 Cricket World Cup 2020 before he was banned from all kinds of cricket for two years, by the BCCI.
He was then, replaced by Prabhat Maurya in the India U-19 squad. Salam represented Mumbai Indians in the IPL 2019 (March). While this year, the right arm pacer was picked by Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), for the base price of INR 20 lakh.
3. Ankit Bawne
One of the most celebrated triumphs for India came at the U-19 World Cup 2012. Unmukt Chand, with his stylish ton in the finals, against Australia, led the side to win the title.
But there could have been a different scenario if Ankeet Bawne, the famous name from Maharashtra, had led the side in the Indian domestic circuit. Bawne was supposed to lead the team, but the age controversy steered selectors to remove him from the squad.
The BCCI discovered that Bawne’s official date of birth (DOB) is December 17, 1992, while, the DOB on his passport is September 01, 1992. The right-hand batter even made a confession that it was his agent who messed it up. But, selectors didn’t want to take any risk and they went on Chand.
However, no particular action was taken against Bawne. Besides, the 29-year-old has scored 6945 runs in his 165 first-class innings.
4. Manjot Kalra
Manjot Kalra, the left-hand batter came into the limelight when he scored a match-winning ton against Australia, at the ICC U-19 World Cup, back in 2018. Kalra had another breakthrough in his cricketing career when he was offered the IPL contract from Delhi Capitals for the 2018 season. Although he didn’t get to play a single game, the Delhi cricketer left his marks.
It was December 2019, when Kalra was found guilty of falsifying their age to play in the under-19 tournaments. Responding to the allegations by selected folks, the BCCI searched and cleared Kalra, regarding the age controversy in 2017.
But, continuous accusations from the parents of other cricketers led the authorities to investigate the matter again and it was found that Kalra provided an incorrect DOB and was a year older to play the U-19 WC. Following the scrutiny, Kalra was banned by the DDCA supervisory body for two years from playing age-group cricket.
5. Nitish Rana
The KKR classy left-hand batter Nitish Rana staggered the cricketing community when he was one of the 23 cricketers to be banned by the BCCI from partaking in the age-group cricket events.
Rana is a reputable member of the Delhi domestic cricket team and was banned after inconsistencies were found in his DOB. The case against Rana is still ongoing, as he was permitted more time to submit the precise information.
Written By Prachi Pisal
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