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The prevalence of age fraud within the realm of Indian cricket is a disheartening reality that tarnishes the integrity of the sport. In a recent incident, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) took decisive action by banning Odisha cricketer Sumit Sharma for two years, underscoring the severity of the offence. Age fraud involves the deliberate misrepresentation of a player’s age. This practice violates the principles of fair competition and undermines the credibility of the entire cricketing system. Such instances not only deceive selectors and coaches but also deny genuine young talents their rightful opportunities.
How things unfolded and what is the exact scenario?
According to reports, discrepancies arose when Sumit’s submitted birth certificate did not align with the one he had provided during the 2015-16 season. This inconsistency sparked various speculations and ultimately led to BCCI suspending him from participating in cricket for two years. Concurrently, the Odisha Cricket Association (OCA) has swiftly taken action by naming Tarini Sa as Sumit’s replacement in the squad for the upcoming matches.
Tarini Sa has joined the team as Sumit’s replacement. This turn of events highlights the importance of maintaining transparency and accuracy in player documentation, reinforcing the commitment of cricket governing bodies to uphold the integrity of the sport.
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Odisha Cricket Association’s statement
Orissa Cricket Association has clarified their stance on the development, clearly stating the reason behind Sharma’s ban. The incident underscores the need for continued vigilance and strict enforcement of measures to uphold the sanctity of age eligibility in cricket.
“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.
