Men’s U-19 Vinoo Mankad Trophy: Hyderabad U-19 Captain, Five Others Banned for Age Fraud After Police Investigation

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In a significant crackdown on age fraud, six Hyderabad cricketers, including the captain of the U-19 team, were banned by the BCCI following an investigation that exposed forged birth certificates.

Following complaints from concerned parents, the Hyderabad Cricket Association (HCA) sought police assistance, resulting in the discovery that the players had falsified their ages to qualify for the Men’s U-19 Vinoo Mankad Trophy.

The investigation revealed that four of the six banned players, including designated captain Chirag Yadav, were part of the team’s core lineup. According to an anonymous HCA source, police scrutiny confirmed the discrepancies, leading to an immediate two-year suspension imposed by both the BCCI and HCA.

“We informed the police, who investigated the issue and found six players had submitted forged birth certificates,” the source explained to the New Indian Express.

The HCA had listed the banned players - Chirag Yadav, Anudeep Javaji, Divesh Bajaj, Gone Prem, Aditya Javaji, and Sai Chandra - on their website, with a press release noting adjustments to the squad initially announced in September.

“The Chairman and members of the Junior Selection Committee met to select replacements for certain players who have been withheld due to ongoing enquiry of age verification,” the statement read.

With the removal of these players, Anvit Reddy took over the captaincy during the tournament, leading the team through the group stages and ultimately to a quarterfinal exit against Chhattisgarh.

Scrutiny and Aadhaar Card Checks Expose Multiple Birth Certificates

As per the New Indian Express report, a second HCA source indicated that irregularities surfaced when HCA officials, citing a need to confirm player domicile, requested Aadhaar details from specific players suspected of tampering with their ages.

These players, unwilling to share the required information, raised suspicions. Upon further investigation, the police reportedly found that multiple birth certificates had been issued for some players, highlighting the lengths taken to misrepresent their eligibility.

Despite the bans, the HCA remains vigilant, indicating that further complaints could lead to additional probes. “Most of these players were the core of the team,” added the source, which demonstrates the impact on Hyderabad’s U-19 squad and the potential for more revelations.