India colts captain Bawne dropped after age fudging

NEW DELHI: The BCCI on Wednesday was left red-faced after Maharashtra batsman Ankit Bawne, who was named captain of the India U-19 squad for a quadrangular tournament, had to be dropped following revelations that he provided inaccurate information about his age.The BCCI named Unmukt Chand as the captain while Kumar Deobrat of Jharkhand was officially named the vice-captain."As there is U-19World Cup due to be held in Australia next year, the cut-off date for playerseligible are those born on and after September 1, 1992," a senior board officialinformed.According to the BCCI database, Bawne's official date ofbirth is December 17, 1992 but now it has been learnt that his passport states aDOB that is before September 1, 1992.While chairman of junior selectors Abey Kuruvilla refused to comment on the issue, another member of the junior selection committee revealed what Bawne has told the board officials about the "age goof-up" in his passport."Ankit told us that he gothis passport made by an agent who had goofed up his date of birth due to whichthis discrepancy happened. Well, that issue can be sorted out but as of now wecan't take any chance with him," the selection committee member preferringanonymity said.However, it is learnt that no action will be takenagainst Bawne although it is the cricketer who has provided wronginformation."Look, it's not only the board which has to pay a pricefor wrong information but also the cricketer. Isn't he already paying a pricefor providing wrong information that he won't play for national team," theofficial questioned.The BCCI named Karnataka's Shreyash Gopal as thereplacement for Bawne.About Unmukt being preferred for captaincyover Kumar Deobrat, the official said, "There is no such rule that we have toname the vice-captain as the leader. Unmukt had a very good domestic season andthat's why we thought of giving him the exposure."