Dean Jones questions 15-year-old Afghanistan cricketer Noor Ahmad's age
The Afghan bowler has been tipped by many to shine in international cricket in the coming years.
Former Australia batsman Dean Jones has questioned the age of Afghanistan spinner Noor Ahmad Lakanwal who recently turned 15. Noor Ahmad became a household name after becoming the youngest cricket to register in IPL auction. The left-arm spinner went under the hammer in last month’s auction but failed to find a bidder.
Dean Jones pointed finger at the youngster’s age when Pakistani journalist Saj Sadiq took to Twitter to write about the recent age-fudging incident involving India’s Manjot Kalra. The former India U19 star who had scored a century in the final of the last U19 World Cup was found guilty of hiding his real age. Consequently, he has been banned from playing age-level cricket for two years and Ranji Trophy for one year.
Apart from Manjot, the likes of Nitish Rana and Shivam Mavi are also under the scanner. Not very long ago, Pakistan pacer Naseem Shah was also in the news for the same reasons as questions were raised at his age. However, he came out clean from the controversy.
“Age-fudging remains a problem in Asia: The latest is Manjot Kalra, who struck a match-winning century in the U-19 World Cup final in 2018 & has been handed a two-year ban from playing for Delhi for age fraud. Reports state 5 other players are also under investigation,” wrote Saj on Twitter.
Dean Jones was quick to notice the tweet and replied immediately. The batting great stated that age-fudging needs to stop before pointing fingers at Noor Ahmad, writing:
“This has got to stop! We had a left arm leg spinner Noor Ahmad from Afghanistan who said in his application for IPL auction that he was 14yo!!! Like come on guys .. 18 yes.. but 14 ??!!”
Noor Ahmad is a part of Aghanistan’s U19 World Cup squad
Noor Ahmad Lakanwal has been tipped by many to shine in international cricket in the coming years. He is a chinaman bowler and is a regular member of the Afghanistan U19 team. Noor Ahmad first came to limelight when he impressed in last year’s U19 Asia Cup by taking eight wickets. Later, he emerged as the Emerging Cricketer in the Sphageeza League — Afghanistan’s franchise-based domestic tournament. The youngster is also a part of Afghanistan’s squad for the upcoming U19 World Cup in South Africa.
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