Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, a 15-year-old cricketer from India, will be required to use a separate changing room during his upcoming international tour in England. This measure is being implemented for safeguarding reasons, as per the regulations of the International Cricket Council (ICC) and the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB).
Sooryavanshi is in line to become India’s youngest international cricketer. He is expected to play in a Twenty20 match against Ireland in Belfast, followed by a five-match T20 series against England, which is scheduled to start in Durham next Wednesday. The safeguarding procedures will be in effect for the England series, as it is an ICC event.
Both the ICC and the ECB prohibit cricketers under the age of 16 from using adult changing rooms. Consequently, Sooryavanshi will have his own dedicated facilities at all venues during the England tour. His parents are also understood to be accompanying him on the tour, staying in the same hotel, which is an agreed deviation from usual protocol due to his age.
Safeguarding Protocols and Player Experience
These safeguarding measures are standard practice in English sport. For instance, Arsenal’s Max Dowman used a separate changing room from his teammates until he turned 16. However, these rules will be new to Sooryavanshi, as they do not apply in India.
During his time in the Indian Premier League (IPL), Sooryavanshi used the same facilities as his Rajasthan Royals teammates throughout the competition. The ECB is collaborating with the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and all five T20 venues to ensure that appropriate measures are in place.
The Cricket Regulator is in communication with the team liaison officer for the Indian team to discuss the requirements and expectations for the player while he is in the UK. County safeguarding officers for each relevant cricket venue are also working closely with the team liaison officer to ensure venue protocols, particularly regarding changing room environments, are understood and adhered to through safeguarding risk assessments.
Sooryavanshi will be permitted to be in the India dressing room during matches and can participate in team talks. The restriction on changing room use applies only when he is changing before and after each match.
Sooryavanshi’s Recent Form and Debut Anticipation
Sooryavanshi has made a significant impact since his IPL debut last year. In his debut IPL season, he scored 252 runs for Rajasthan at a strike rate of 206.5, becoming the youngest centurion in men’s T20 cricket with a hundred off 38 balls. This year, he was the highest scorer in the IPL with 776 runs and broke Chris Gayle’s record for hitting the most sixes in a season, finishing with 65.
He prepared for the tour by making five appearances for India A this month. Recently, he scored 94 off 29 balls against Sri Lanka A, an innings that included the fastest List A 50, achieved off 11 balls.
Sooryavanshi was named in India’s T20 squad for the tours to Ireland and England, as well as the Asian Games, after his performance in this year’s IPL. He received his first official India jersey, a moment he described as a long-held dream. The BCCI released a video showing him unpacking the blue jersey with his name and the number 03 on the back.
Former India and Irish cricketer M V Narasimha Rao noted the excitement surrounding Sooryavanshi’s potential debut. Rao, who played four Tests for India and later for Ireland, believes Sooryavanshi may enjoy batting in Belfast due to the generally slow wickets and the absence of fast bowlers with high pace in Ireland.
However, Rao anticipates a greater challenge for the 15-year-old during the five-match T20I series against England, where the ball movement and changing weather conditions could pose a bigger test. Sooryavanshi could make his senior debut for India in Friday’s first T20 match against Ireland in Belfast.
India is scheduled to play two T20s against Ireland on Friday and Sunday before travelling to England. The safeguarding regulations are not expected to be applied in Belfast, as those matches fall under the jurisdiction of Cricket Ireland.
Source: theguardian.com
