HC asks BCCI not to act as a 'hindrance to the sport of cricket'

BCCI, MCA have been warned by the HC for not nurturing talent

The Mumbai High Court asked the BCCI and MCA not to create hurdles for young cricketers, attempting to climb the sport’s hierarchy in India. While hearing the plea of a student who was not selected for a major state-level tournament, the HC added that BCCI should ‘encourage talent and nurture it.’

Justice S C Dharmadhikari said, ‘the teenage years are vital stepping stones to success for budding cricketers. BCCI and MCA must treat these milestones with equal importance as it will groom our future talent. We are in a scenario where we have a plethora of talent coming from different parts of the country, and the governing body must make sure that it is filtered properly.”

This particular verdict was passed during the hearing of Class 10 student, Sagar Chhabria, who challenged the Tanner-Whitehouse (TW3) rule, applied by BCCI for age-verification. The rule applies certain techniques to shortlist candidates for designated age categories such as bone density tests, during the ongoing Vijay Merchant Trophy.

In a case lodged by his father, Sagar contested that his declared of 16.5 years was wrongly appropriated by the BCCI. MCA, BCCI fixed an age cap of September 1, 1999.

Sagar’s lawyers stated that he was born on January 12, 2000 and all necessary documents were submitted to the MCA office. What put the case into further doubt, was the contradictory reports from the BCCI and MCA doctors. After conducting a bone density test to determine Sagar’s age, the BCCI doctor said, “we are not raising any questions about his legitimacy as a cricketer, he can challenge for a spot in the U-19 trials.”

However, the MCA doctor said, “Even if we are wrong, nothing can be done anymore, there is no way he can participate in the tournament. It’s too late.” While giving the final verdict, SC Dharmadhikari said, “All proof suggests that Sagar did not misappropriate his age and it was the BCCI and MCA’s fault. Sports governing bodies for too long have creating hurdles for sporting careers. Athletes have to wait and wait, until they finally give up. I request the BCCI to not create hurdles and act as a hindrance to the sport of cricket.

A senior BCCI official said, “I would not like to comment on the issue, until I receive full case details. However, the number of players coming from smaller towns in the Ranji Trophy is indicative of our grass-root level development.”