The ongoing ICC U19 Cricket World Cup entered into a serious controversial stage with age discrepancy. Two Mumbai cricketers accused Nepal captain Raju Rijal of being overage.
When Nepal was playing against India in the Group D match on Monday, which was also first televised Nepal match in India, two Mumbai cricketers Kaustub Pawar and Javed Khan were startled to see the Nepal skipper Raju Rijal. According to them, Raju Rijal was actually Raju Sharma who was their skipper in U15 cricket in 2005. According to them, Raju should be 24-25 years age currently.
Kaustub Pawar has played 27 first-class matches as a batsman. He played Ranji-trophy for Mumbai. Pawar posted on his Facebook page with hashtagged #SaveCricket #Shame, “We played together in under 15 for Mumbai and now he is captain of Nepal Under 19 team and we others are 24-25 age respectively.” Pawar also added in that post, “In Mumbai Raju Sharma, In Nepal Raju Rijal.
We played together in under 15 for Mumbai and now he is captain of Nepal under 19 team and we others are 24-25 age…
Posted by Kaustub Pawar on Sunday, 31 January 2016
Javed Khan also has played Ranji Trophy for Mumbai. He told TOI, “Of course he is overage. I remember playing under him for Mumbai’s U-15 squad. Me, Sufiyaan, Kaustubh and Raju have played many matches together. I simply cannot understand how he is still U-19.”
As per MCA records, Raju Sharma’s registered date of birth was 18th October 1990. He played the last match for Mumbai in 2012 as per MCA record. On the other hand, Rijal’s official record said that his date of birth was 26th September 1996.
The Nepal manager Sudeep Sharma totally denied the controversy. He told The Indian Express, “I am aware of this controversy. Raju though has no idea. They are not allowed to be on Facebook or anything. Anyone can write anything on social media. Does he (Kaustub Pawar) have any evidence? He should produce evidence to back his claim. Maybe he has some problem with Raju.” Yet he admitted Rijal had played cricket in India.
Nepal skipper Raju Rijal commented, “I don’t have any idea about this. I am not on social media so I cannot comment on this.”
Sources close to ICC (International Cricket Council) said the rules for the associate nations players’ age aren’t too strict when it comes to fielding. A source informed, “They can field a 20-year-old, but that won’t be made public.” But whatever, the controversial age is far ahead from that.
An ICC spokesperson commented, “Players born on or after September 1, 1996 are eligible to participate in the event. As such, the ICC conducted due diligence and examined the documents provided by Cricket Association of Nepal (CAN), which included a passport copy , birth certificate and completed age determination form declaration. These documents confirmed that the player was under the age of 19 at the time of the cut-off date and was hence deemed eligible.”