Teenage cricket star Vaibhav Sooryavanshi will have to have his own separate change room from the rest of the senior team while playing in the T20I series against Ireland and England as part of the requirements under UK safeguarding regulations.
Vaibhav Sooryavanshi is an incredibly talented 15-year-old batter who has developed into one of India’s most exciting young cricketers. Currently, Vaibhav is a member of the Indian cricket team for two T20I matches in Ireland and five T20I matches in England. To meet the UK’s local safeguarding guidelines because he is under the age of 16 and is required to have additional considerations to comply with UK local regulations, he will have special arrangements in place.
Reports have indicated that Vaibhav Sooryavanshi will participate fully in team meetings, tactical discussions and other match-related activities as a member of the Indian team. However, when it comes to using the changing room, he will either have a separate change room or the main changing room at designated times when no other players are present.
Just like in the previous instance of two T20Is in Belfast, the same regulations are expected to apply here as well. The Indian cricket team will also be provided with three separate rooms at the Civil Service Cricket Ground in Stormont, thereby enabling them to fulfill their safeguarding requirements.
Similar arrangements are in place in different sports throughout the UK. For example, young footballers are required to get changed in separate areas when playing for the Arsenal first team prior to their 16th birthday.
According to an ECB spokesperson, “The safety of everyone participating in cricket is of the utmost importance, and the ECB has been working closely with our cricket regulator, the Indian team liaison officer and the venue’s safeguarding officials to ensure that all of the necessary protocols are being adhered to during this tour.
“As previously noted, Sooryavanshi will be traveling with his parents during the tour, which isn’t typical for family members to accompany touring squads; however, due to the fact that he is still a minor, exceptions have been made for him. By allowing his parents to stay in the same hotel as him, he will have additional support and supervision during his time in the UK.”
Sooryavanshi’s parents will be traveling along with him, with the BCCI covering all expenses associated with that travel. This supports the BCCI’s ongoing focus on promoting the well-being of this young person as he continues growing as a cricketer.
Sooryavanshi is already experienced at this level of the game due to playing on state teams that also shared dressing rooms with players who were on major league rosters (IPL, Rajasthan Royals) and recently playing for India A at the 2016 Tri Series in Sri Lanka.
The upcoming series against Ireland and/or England could be a historic event for Sooryavanshi because if he makes his debut, he will become the youngest player to have made his international debut in cricket history, surpassing Sachin Tendulkar’s record of being 16 years and 205 days when he made his debut.
Indian cricket fans are keenly awaiting the potential debut of a young player when India launches its Ireland campaign on the 26th and 28th of June, prior to traveling to England for five Twenty20 Internationals and three One-Day Internationals. Cricket discussions about emerging talent are common within cricket circles, with a similar level of discussion around websites such as 007 Book and trusted betting ID providers; however, this week the young player’s remarkable journey captures all of the attention.
The tour represents another significant step forward in the young player’s development and will be in compliance with all of the safeguards in place to protect young athletes as they transition to international competition.