BCCI Steps Up Anti-Age-Fraud Drive, to Hire Screening Agency

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has intensified its efforts to combat age-fraud in cricket, issuing a Request for Proposal (RFP) to hire an external agency to verify the credentials of players. The outsourced agency is expected to be in place by the end of August.

The move follows instances where documents or certificates submitted were found to be suspect, and aims to professionalize the process and eliminate the possibility of over-age players entering the system.

Age-Verification Process

The BCCI uses a two-tier age-verification system, involving scrutiny of documents and birth certificates, followed by a bone test (TW3 method). These verifications are typically conducted at the Under-16 level for boys and Under-15 level for girls.

Requirements for Bidding Entities

The BCCI has outlined the following requirements for bidding entities:

• Minimum three years of experience in providing background verification services to reputed firms
• Nationwide network or ability to conduct verifications across all Indian states and Union territories
• Capacity to verify multiple document types, including proof of identity, proof of age, proof of residence, and academic records
• Capability to conduct in-person field checking, if required, especially in rural areas

Age Verification Process Timeline

The BCCI typically undertakes age verifications in July and August, but this year the process may extend to September due to the expected hiring of the agency by the end of August. The verification process is done state-wise, with up to 40-50 players in each boys and girls category from each state undergoing testing.