Beware! BCCI cracks down: New bone test rule to catch over-age players | Cricket News – Times of India

NEW DELHI: In a notable improvement, the BCCI has launched a further bone test on the junior stage to make sure that younger cricketers don’t miss out on a season due to the “+1 factor” presently utilized within the eligibility calculation, which regularly disqualifies players by a slender margin.As per the prevailing process, a cricketer’s age is set by the TW3 methodology (used to assess bone age), and a “+1” is added to the end result to undertaking eligibility for the following season in the identical age group.With the up to date rule, players within the Under-16 boys’ class will now be permitted to bear a second bone test within the following season, ought to the “+1” issue make them ineligible within the earlier one.“It is being done to have an exact age and make sure that no player loses due to arithmetical calculation rather than scientific calculation,” a BCCI supply informed PTI.Currently, the bone age restrict is ready at 16.5 years for U-16 boys and 15 years for U-15 women.“This means that the bone age of a player has to be 16.4 or below in the following season in male cricketers and 14.9 or below in case of females for participation,” the supply mentioned.To additional illustrate the brand new coverage, if a male U-16 participant’s bone test end result within the 2025-26 season reveals 15.4 years, he received’t be examined once more the following season. Instead, one 12 months might be added arithmetically, bringing his bone age to 16.4 for the 2026-27 season, conserving him eligible to compete.Conversely, if a participant’s bone age is 15.5 or extra, including one 12 months makes it 16.5 or above, exceeding the eligibility threshold of 16.4 and ruling him out of the U-16 event.

“It’s possible that this arithmetical calculation does not accurately reflect a player’s actual age, which could cause them to lose out on a year of eligibility,” the supply added.For U-15 women, if a bone test reveals a participant is 13.9 years outdated this season, she qualifies to play subsequent season with a bone age of 14.9.But if she exams at 14 or older this season, she will take part now, however not the next 12 months, given the 14.9 age cap.