Ranji Trophy 2024: BCCI hands Odisha's Sumit Sharma two-year ban for age fraud

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has banned Odisha cricketer Sumit Sharma for two years as he has produced multiple birth certificates during the course of his career. The all-rounder travelled with the squad to Baroda to play their first Ranji Trophy game of the season but ahead of the match, the cricketer was handed a suspension letter by the disciplinary committee of the governing body.

As per reports, his birth certificate did not tally with the one he submitted back in the 2015-16 season, which gave birth to multiple speculations and eventually was suspended by the board. Meanwhile, the Odisha Cricket Association (OCA) has named Tarini Sa as Sumit’s replacement in the squad for the first match. The cricketer has joined the squad in Baroda but didn’t feature in the playing XI.

“Sumit Sharma, a player of Odisha Senior Men’s Team, has been disqualified by the BCCI to play in the BCCI Domestic Tournaments for 2 years as he has produced multiple age certificates. The certificates produced by him when he played at the junior level in the year 2015-16 do not match with the ones he produced for the current season,” OCA secretary Sanjay Behera said in a press statement explaining the development.

Jyotnil Singh’s half-century keeps Baroda in the driver’s seat against Odisha

Baroda are 92/3 against Odisha at Lunch on Day 1. Jyotnil Singh’s 51* kept the Vishnu Solanki-led side alive in the contest as the hosts' top order failed to fire on the first day. Rajesh Mohanty and Suryakant Pradhan picked up one wicket each as Odisha will look to bundle them early in the hope of taking a lead.

Meanwhile, Baroda's Krunal Pandya isn’t part of the squad during round one of the Elite Division. In his absence, the squad looks a bit inexperienced. Odisha, on the other hand, will depend heavily on Shantanu Mishra and Subhranshu Senapati as they have the much-needed experience.