The Maharashtra Sports Ministry accused the ICC U-19 World Cup’s star Rajvardhan Hangargekar of the allegations of age-fudging. Omprakash Bakoria, the Commissioner of Sports and Youth Department claimed that Rajvardhan did things against sports ethics. This step will lead to damage the reputation of Indian Sports.
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According to Sportstar, BCCI is unlikely to take any kind of action against the cricketer. The young cricketer had passed the age verification protocol based on bone taste previously during the time of his initiation into the age group inter-state system. Also, a BCCI insider confirmed Sportstar that Rajvardhan first played for Maharashtra in U-16 during 2016-17. The TW3 test during that time confirmed that his age was at par with the documents.
“Mr. Rajvardhan Hangargekar is against the sport’s integrity and ethics”: Om Prakash Bakoria
Om Prakash wrote a letter to the BCCI attached with proof of his claim. Om Prakash Bakoria wrote, “The conduct of Mr. Rajvardhan Hangargekar is against the sport’s integrity and ethics. lt deprives fair play and results into damages to the reputation of the nation. Therefore, you are requested to take strict action in accordance with the law. If the Head Master requires any corrections in birth date, it is necessary to take prior permission of Education officer of concerned district. However, no such permission has been taken for making changes in the birth date of Mr. Rajvardhan Hangargekar from 10/01/2001 to 10/11/2002 by the Head Master of Terna Public School, Osmanabad. As per the report of Chief Executive Officer (lAS), Zilla Parishad, Osmanabad, the birth date of said player is 10/01/2001, and therefore, he has completed 21 years of age at the time of tournament.”
