BCCI bans Sikkim cricketer Manoj Gurung for two years

The Northeast states are finding themselves in the middle of controversies at the start of their first domestic season itself. Recently, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) cancelled the registration of eight Puducherry players and now they have handed a two-year ban to Manoj Gurung, Sikkim U19 cricketer, for tampering with his birth certificate.

During the year 2014, Manoj had registered himself for the Cooch Behar Trophy as the 1997-born cricketer and according to the birth certificate, he should’ve been 21-year-old by now. However, this time around, he has submitted the certificate claiming that the cricketer was born in 2000. During the registration process, the board noticed the blunder and the association was informed immediately about the same.

The BCCI then sent a letter to the Sikkim Cricket Association (SCA) stating that Manoj Gurung has been banned for two years and will not be allowed to participate in any of the BCCI-affiliated tournament with effect from this season.

SCA secretary comments

The SCA officials are shocked over the developments as the question of how the player managed to forge the birth certificate and submit it to the association still remains unanswered. Though SCA’s secretary Sonam Palden Bhutia, while speaking to Sportstar, lauded BCCI for taking a strict step and also went on to say that they will completely cooperate with the board in this case.

“It is a very good step taken by the BCCI and this will prevent the players from getting involved into any unfair practices. The association will completely cooperate with the Board on the matter, Bhutia said.

Meanwhile, the BCCI officials have also confirmed the news and have made it clear that such activities won’t be tolerated and it is very much possible that even stern punishments might be announced on the involved cricketers.

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