DDCA ombudsman suspends India’s U-19 World Cup hero Manjot Kalra for age fraud

Hyderabad: Outgoing Delhi and District Cricket Association ombudsman Badar Durrez Ahmed has suspended batsman Manjot Kalra, alleging age-fraud during the latter’s U-16 and U-19 days. The focus remains on the U-19 tournament, as the latter had been almost 21 while attending the World Cup in 2018.

He was in line to replace Shikhar Dhawan in Delhi’s domestic squad, but to his misery, Badar Ahmed suspended the batsman on the last day of the former’s service. The ombudsman passed an order not allowing Kalra to play age-group cricket for two years, and Ranji Trophy for one year.

Manjot Kalra is a promising top-order left-handed batsman from Delhi and India’s U-19 World Cup hero in 2018. He also played for the Delhi U-23 and scored a brilliant 80 against Bengal last week. Manjot had earlier anchored India U-19 side to victory in the finals of the tournament against Australia back in February 2018 with a match-winning century.

His fellow U-19 teammate and pacer Shivam Mavi and his domestic side vice-captain Nitish Rana are also under the scanner for the same offence. However, authorities have taken no action against Mavi and Rana yet.

Speaking on Kalra’s suspension, DDCA General Secretary Vinod Tihara said, “He will not be allowed to play club matches as well. His parents have to appeal for a change of order in front of the ombudsman. Until then, Kalra can’t be picked for Ranji Trophy.”