U-19 WC Star Manjot Kalra Suspended From Ranji Trophy For Alleged Age-fraud

"I find it surprising that Manjot Kalra has been punished for the same offence that Nitish Rana is also allegedly guilty of", DDCA general secretary Vinod Tihara told PTI.

Left-handed opener Manjot Kalra, has been slapped with a one year suspension by outgoing DDCA Ombudsman from playing Ranji Trophy, for an alleged age-fraud during the young cricketer's  U-16 and U-19 days. However, for the same offence, Delhi senior team vice-captain Nitish Rana has been let off for the time being with more documents being sought to prove that he fudged his age at the junior level. Another U-19 star Shivam Mavi's case has been referred to the BCCI since he now represents Uttar Pradesh in senior cricket. The outgoing Ombudsman Justice (Retired) Badr Durrez Ahmed passed an order (a copy of which is with PTI) on his final day, preventing Kalra from playing age-group cricket for two years but more importantly denying him a chance to play Ranji Trophy for this season. Kalra, whose age as per BCCI records is 20 years 351 days, last week played for Delhi U-23 against Bengal and scored 80. He was in line to replace senior opener Shikhar Dhawan in the Ranji squad but as it now stands, he will not play any further. When asked a senior DDCA official, he expressed his helplessness. "I find it surprising that Manjot Kalra has been punished for the same offence that Nitish Rana is also allegedly guilty of. We couldn't pick Manjot as it was Ombudsman's order. He passed it at 11:30 pm at night, a day before he relinquished office. Now that's a bit bizarre," DDCA general secretary Vinod Tihara told PTI. Manjot shot into the limelight after scoring a brilliant hundred in the final of the last edition of U-19 World Cup