Why age fraud in cricket is as pervasive as the game in India

In India, where age is often a sensitive topic, tackling age fraud in cricket remains a major challenge

By Sanjay Dubey

Age fraud, the deliberate misrepresentation of an athlete’s age to gain an unfair advantage, has plagued Indian sports, particularly cricket, for decades. The issue resurfaces repeatedly, casting a shadow over the integrity of the game and the future of young athletes.

In November 2024, six Hyderabad players, including the designated captain of the U19 state team, were banned by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) for age falsification. The players had been selected to represent the state in the Vinoo Mankad Trophy, a prestigious national U19 tournament. Parental complaints led to the discovery of this age fraud incident.

Women’s cricket has also faced similar challenges. In December 2022, just weeks before the inaugural Women’s Under-15 One-Day Tournament, a shocking discovery was made: 14 out of 25 probable players from Karnataka failed the age verification test. Such incidents at regular intervals highlight how deeply entrenched this problem is across genders and age groups.