Minimum age to play International Cricket is 15, says ICC

Dubai: The International Cricket Council (ICC) Board has announced that the minimum age for cricketers to play international cricket is 15 years. The board introduced the minimum age policy for players to play globally through an official release.

The release by ICC said, "The Board confirmed the introduction of minimum age restrictions for international cricket to improve safeguarding of players which will apply across all cricket including ICC events, bilateral cricket and U19 cricket."

Only in exceptional cases, the apex cricket board will let the player under the age of 15 years represent their country in international cricket, said the release.

The board said that the exceptional circumstances include a player, whose "playing experience and mental development and wellbeing" shows that they would be able to cope up with the demands of international cricket.

Prior to the latest new minimum age policy by ICC, there was no such bar on the age of a cricketer playing any form of international cricket.

The youngest cricketer, who played his first international test match at the age of 14 years is Hasan Raza from Pakistan. The right-handed batsman had played seven tests and 16 ODIs between the years 1996 to 2005.

In the case of India, it is the legendary cricketer, Sachin Tendulkar, who is the youngest Indian to play international cricket for the country. He made his Test debut at the age of 16. The former international cricketer, Tendulkar is recognised as one of the greatest batsmen in the history of cricket globally. Widely known as the Master Blaster, Tendulkar has scored 18,426 runs in ODI and 15,921 runs in Tests.

Also Read President Kovind, CM Sonowal, Assam Finance Minister Sarma extends greetings on Chhath Puja

Also Watch Assam Govt Fulfilling Promises: Girl Students Queue up to Register for Scooties