JAMMU, Vanshaj Sharma, a cricketer hailing from Jammu and Kashmir, has been handed a two-year ban by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) following the submission of multiple birth certificates with varying dates of birth.

According to a news release by Kashmir Media Service, a statement from the Jammu and Kashmir Cricket Association (JKCA) clarified that Sharma, a resident of Bishnah, Jammu, provided these conflicting documents which led to his suspension. Effective from October 27, Sharma will be barred from partaking in all BCCI-affiliated tournaments for the next two years.

The association added that, after the conclusion of his suspension, Sharma will be eligible to participate solely in the Senior Men’s Tournament conducted by the BCCI. He will be permanently excluded from any age-restricted tournaments organized by the cricketing body.

Furthermore, the JKCA pointed out that Sharma had relocated to another state in India and sought to represent the U-23 Men’s team of Bihar. Since his initial registration with the JKCA took place in the 2021-22 season, his data remained with the BCCI, facilitating the discovery of the conflicting birth certificates. Consequently, the repercussions not only include his immediate two-year suspension but also his lifelong exclusion from age-specific BCCI tournaments.