The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has decided to use BoneXpert software to detect any age fraud at various levels of age group cricket, particularly at the U19 level when the team is selected for the U19 World Cup.
The current method that is being used to confirm if the concerned player is 19 or less than 19 is the X-ray method. The process takes place locally in whichever state association the player is registered at, however, it is supervised by a BCCI executive.
An X-ray of the left hand and wrist of the player is taken and sent to the BCCI. The X-ray is then examined by the radiologists which have been appointed by the BCCI specifically for this purpose. The total cost per X-ray and its examination, whenever the process takes place, is 2400 INR right now, but if the experiment with the BoneXpert software succeeds, the cost will come down to 288 INR.
BoneXpert software will save both time and money for BCCI
BoneXpert software is also expected to save a lot of time for BCCI, because in case of the X-ray method, from the time the X-rays are taken and sent to the radiologists for examination and the report of the radiologists comes to the BCCI, it takes about three to four days.
But, BoneXpert software will get it done instantly. BCCI, however, will use the software only on an experimental basis this year. They will use it, alongside the X-ray method, and it will be later determined how efficient the software is.
BCCI has had to deal with some of the cases of age fraud at the U19 level in the recent years and there have been cases involving some very talented players.
Rasikh Salam, a promising fast bowler from Jammu & Kashmir, had to suffer a ban because of age controversy and so had Manjot Kalra, the left handed batsman from Delhi. Manjot had actually scored a tournament winning hundred for India in the final of U19 World Cup, 2018.
