BCCI reinforces age verification with revised protocol; Second bone test included

In a remarkable development aimed at strengthening the integrity of the age group’s cricket in India, the Cricket Control Board in India (BCCI) has modified its long duration Age Verification Program (AVP) By introducing a second chance for young cricketers to validate their age through bone tests.

BCCI René the age verification protocol to include the second bone test for equity

According to Cricbuzz’s report, the decision, approved at the last meeting of the APEX Council, responds to the growing concerns about the accuracy of bone assessments and the equity of the eligibility rules of the age group. Previously, the BCCI AVP only allowed a single bone test for boys from 14 to 16 years old and girls from 12 to 15 years old. The process used to involve adding a full year to the proven bone age of a player, a value used to determine his “mathematical age” for participation in junior tournaments by BCCI.

The report further added that, according to the new AVP rules, if a player remains less than the age limit according to his birth certificate, a second bone test will now be allowed during the later year. In the event that this second test shows a bone age within the permissible limits, the player may continue to participate in the age group category. This change will benefit not only the boys, but also the girls who compete in similar age brackets.

The movement is a direct recognition that, while bone tests are a scientifically based method, is not devoid of inconsistencies. External factors such as ethnicity, nutrition, genetics and regional disparities can influence the maturity of the skeleton and make bone test results slightly inaccurate. Thus, the introduction of a repeated test is being welcomed as a more compassionate and scientific approach that also protects the talents that deserve disqualification based on the results of the border.

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Combat age fraud: BCCI narrows verification with Aadhaar and State coordination

Beyond bone tests, the BCCI has had to deal with a more worrying problem in recent years: fraud and impersonation during medical evaluations. In an attempt to overcome the system, it was discovered that several parents had sent minor or minor siblings not related to undergoing bone tests instead of real players, thus guaranteeing eligibility for deception. These cases of identity manipulation had become a concern for both the Central Council and the state associations.

According to the report, in response, the BCCI has now entered a mandatory verification based on AADHAAR, including the presentation of Aadhaar documents with current photographs, to ensure that the child who undergoes the test is, in fact, the player registered in the State Association. This procedural hardening aims to restore credibility and transparency in the selection process and prevent talented but honest young people from dishonest practices.

Own bone tests are performed annually before the domestic season begins, usually during July and August. Each affiliated state association is allocated to a specific test window during which the medical staff designated by BCCI visited hospitals designated to perform the X-ray tests. The AVP has been essential to defend equity in junior cricket competitions, but the decision to evolve it even more through a second test reflects the consciousness of the Council that the science has to work, races and dreams with young athletes. When balancing rigor with empathy, the BCCI is opening the way to a cleaner and more reliable ecosystem of the base Indian cricket.

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