Special rule for Vaibhav Suryavanshi during England T20 series

MUMBAI: India’s 15-year-old under-19 cricketer Vaibhav Suryavanshi will have to use a separate dressing room from his team during the upcoming T20 series against England under special rules.

According to reports, this arrangement for the 15-year-old Indian player has been made in accordance with the International Cricket Council (ICC) and England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) safety regulations, which apply to players under the age of 16.

As per the safety regulations implemented for under-19 players, Vaibhav Suryavanshi will remain with the Indian squad during matches and team meetings, but will be provided with a separate dressing room for changing clothes and other related activities. This rule will be applicable during the five-match T20 series to be played in England.

As an alternative arrangement, he can also change clothes in the main dressing room at a separate time, provided that other senior players are not present at that time.

According to reports, the same rules will also apply during the two T20 matches against Ireland in Belfast. The Indian team has been provided with 3 separate rooms in the stadium pavilion for this purpose and the team management has been informed of the relevant rules.

An ECB spokesperson said that since this is an event under the jurisdiction of the ICC, ICC safety procedures will be in effect, while the ECB’s Safe Hands Policy will also be applicable at all times.

According to the spokesperson, the cricket regulator is in touch with the Indian team’s team liaison officer to ensure that all safety requirements related to the player are implemented during his stay in the UK. Safeguarding officers of the relevant grounds are also reviewing the arrangements with the team management.

The ECB says that Vaibhav Suryavanshi’s parents will stay with him throughout the tour. In view of his young age, the parents will also stay in the same hotel where the Indian team will be staying, with special permission.

Earlier, Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) secretary Devajit Saikia had also confirmed that Suryavanshi’s parents will accompany him throughout the tour, the expenses of which will be borne by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI).

Vaibhav Suryavanshi has previously been a part of the dressing rooms of Rajasthan Royals, India A and domestic cricket teams in the IPL. If he makes his T20 International debut against Ireland or England, he will become the youngest male cricketer for India, breaking the record of Sachin Tendulkar, who made his debut at the age of 16 years and 205 days.