Dravid opens up on age fraud in Indian cricket

Former India captain Rahul Dravid, in a Prize Distribution Ceremony of the Times Cricket Shield on Friday, blamed age fraud for the erosion of the cricket culture in the country.

The 46-year-old revealed that the phenomenon of age fraud created hurdles for various deserving individuals.

"Age fraud leads to an erosion of culture," Dravid said. "It leads to a scenario where a lot of talented boys don't get to play, when they should actually be playing."

Dravid, who is a former under-19 coach, had created strict rules where players could only participate in one under-19 World Cup. He stressed the need to enforce the rule in its entirety.

"It is up to the maidan secretaries, the owners of the office teams, the club teams to ensure that this does not happen," he said.

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The former skipper praised the Time Shield as an elite tournament and stated that he would have loved to have participated in the tournament in his playing days.

"The Times Shield, for all of us outside Mumbai, was a tournament that players looked at with a lot of envy. Among the many things I have achieved, I would have loved to add playing in The Times Shield to them," he said. "However, as a young boy, I preferred being closer to home and instead played in the Chennai league."

Dravid reminded the young cricketers in attendance to enjoy the game itself which could help them develop their skills.

"Not everyone of you will go on to play Ranji Trophy or for India or get an IPL contract. But don't let selection come in the way of your enjoyment. If you are always worried about your next selection, you will never enjoy the game," he concluded.