The age-fudging issue is a major problem: Rahul Dravid

India A and Under-19 team coach, Rahul Dravid, is pleased with the Board of Control for Cricket in India’s (BCCI) decision to approve the recommendations made by the technical committee to put a cap on a player’s eligibility to play U19 cricket. After the BCCI accepted it during its conclave a player can play a maximum of two seasons of U19 cricket and can represent the national team only once in the Under-19 World Cup.

Dravid who has taken up this responsibility to nurture young talent in the country and to shape the future of Indian cricket said, “Being allowed to play only one Under-19 World Cup will mean people are less motivated to alter the age,” Dravid was quoted by PTI saying.

“Honestly, Under-19 cricket should be more about exposure and less about results. The focus should be on giving more youngsters an opportunity to play rather than on winning. And that’s what this new rule will result in. The long-term results of this step will far outweigh the potential loss of results in the short term,”

“(I’m) really glad that the BCCI is taking some steps to try to address the over-age issue. There is no quick fix to it but at least a step in the right direction has been taken. The age-fudging issue is a major problem and I see it having an adverse impact on the development of cricketers and the continued participation of more deserving people in the game,” the former Indian skipper added.

Also read – VVS Laxman was in no position of a conflict of interest: BCCI

With a player allowed to be a part of the U19 team for just two seasons, new talents will have enough opportunities and players will prefer to play more of U16 and U17 cricket than knock the doors of the Under-19 team at a younger age. This according to Dravid will also help them curb the age fudging issue.

“The move to allow players who enter the set up only at the Under-19 level to play only two years of Under-19 cricket is not a bad idea, but needs to be monitored and evaluated at the ground level,” Dravid said. “We have heard of instances where players skip the bone test at the Under-16 level and play many years at the Under-19 level. This may prove a deterrent to those kind of people. Cricketers at that level, if they are good enough, two years of Under-19 cricket should be enough for them to graduate to the next level.”

“In any case, there are Under-23 matches which provide another platform. There is no purpose being served by having youngsters continue to play three-four years at the Under-19 level, especially if they have entered the scene after the age of 16-17,” he added.

He also proposed a suggestion to crack down cases where people opt to change the school at 10-12 and while doing so obtain a new birth certificate reducing the age of the ward. “Another practice that is prevalent is people getting young kids at 10-12 to change schools and obtain new birth certificates. Unfortunately, I have heard that getting a new birth certificate isn’t too hard. The BCCI needs to make a rule that birth certificates are eligible only if they are dated within two years of the child’s birth.”

Also check out – Fake Fb wall: Anil Kumble is wondering what the controversy is all about

“We might miss out on a few authentic guys who for some reason haven’t been able to obtain a birth certificate, but it will be a strong deterrent to the many wrongdoers and will make age group cricket a much fairer reflection of talent,” Dravid said.