A few days after being barred from playing junior cricket for two years, former India U-19 opener Manjot Kalra has been suspended from playing Ranji Trophy for one year. The decision has been taken by outgoing DDCA Ombudsman Badar Durrez Ahmed. The move to suspend Kalra does come as a surprise as he was in line to make his first-class debut against Punjab, replacing Shikhar Dhawan, but he will now have to wait to get a chance in senior cricket.
The DDCA will likely take up Kalra’s case when a new President takes over later this month. Kalra’s age-fraud case first came to light in 2017. Though he was cleared to play the U-19 World Cup and also scored a century in the final of the tournament to lead Team India to their fourth U-19 title victory.
He was bought by Delhi Capitals in IPL 2018 auction and also made it to the state squad. He has played two T20s so far and is yet to make his first-class debut. Kalra cannot play junior cricket and will have to sit out for a year, as per the ombudsman’s order.
A decision on Nitish Rana is still pending as he has been asked to produce more documents. He is already 26 and cannot play age-group cricket now. Rana was one of the 22 players to be banned by BCCI in 2015. A week later, he made his first-class debut for Delhi and has also led the team.
Shivam Mavi, who was also under the scanner for age-fraud, is also waiting for a decision as his case has been forwarded to BCCI. Mavi came in the scheme of things soon after he made his U-19 World Cup debut. He made his first-class debut for India A in 2018.
BCCI, in past, has suspended few players for age-fraud. Last year, the board suspended Rasikh Salam for two years and also withdrew him from the U-19 squad. He had made his IPL debut for Mumbai Indians last year.