16 of the 30 Under-16 probables selected by the Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) were found to be overage in a bone test conducted by the BCCI. The MCA had announced the probables last week and they underwent tests a couple of days ago. The reports came in Thursday which has taken MCA officials aback.
"Henceforth it will be better if MCA conducts tests before the age group selection tournaments. All those selected had recently played in an under-16 selection tournament. It robs players who fit the age criteria of proving this worth,"
said an MCA official
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Apex Council Member Unmesh Khanvilkar has recommended that. "in future, it would be better if the MCA conducts these bone tests before selection of BCCI tournaments"
"My suggestion is that the Under-14 and Under-16 selection tournaments that we conduct at the MCA should be called the TW-2 and TW-3 tournaments. Whoever wishes to play in these tournaments will know that he has to go for a bone test before playing in these tournaments. This will ensure that we don't face this problem in the BCCI tournaments. I recommend this in the MCA's Apex Council meeting on December 28"
Unmesh Khanvilkar explained
"Two years back, I had suggested that the MCA should organize bone tests at its approved centers for the top eight teams in the Elite Division of the Giles and Harris Shield. If you do this for a boy Under-14 level also, you won't need to test again for the Under-16 level. Similarly, organize bone tests for an Under-16 selection trial tournaments like Payyade Trophy or the Kalpesh Koli Memorial," Khanvilkar added.
Khanvilkar stressed that he doesn't want players to be found overage. He said that he is going to propose if a boy is found to be overage in Under-14 or 16. Khanvilkar said then he should be drafted into the Under-19 camp. Meanwhile, he explains that the 16 players who have been found to be overage, should get a chance to prove themselves for Under-19 selection.