BCCI set to experiment with Age Detection Software, aims to save 80% costs

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), which follows a zero-tolerance policy on age fraud, is all set to bring in a new software named 'BoneXpert', which will detect the violation of the policy and save up to 80 percent of the existing costs. 

BCCI aims to use cost-effective measure

There have been several cases reported where players were found breaching the age policy in specific age-group tournaments. To detect those engaged in such frauds, the Indian Cricket Board is setting up the new software.

The BCCI currently uses the Tanner-Whitehouse 3 (TW3) method for this purpose, which is based on an X-ray of the left hand and wrist for age determination.

The Bone Test of TW3 method costs the BCCI INR 2400 per individual and takes about 3-4 days to deliver the final report. While the new BoneXpert software will provide the instantaneous results and will cost only INR 288 per test. 

How does BoneXpert work? 

The BCCI released a note, where they illustrated the whole process of how the software will work.

“The X-rays are taken at the respective home centres of state associations at the X-ray centre in the presence of an independent BCCI observer and sent to the BCCI AVP Department," the BCCI note reads.

“The BCCI AVP department collates them in a proper format and sends them to two (2) independent radiologists on the BCCI panel for interpretation of bone age. Reporting also takes time since we have about 4 radiologists doing ratings of 38 associations and every radiologist does the interpretation of about 8-9 associations.

“It can take any time between one day to three-four days to get the reporting of associations from the consultants depending upon the workload on them and number of players. The entire process takes around two (2) months to be completed." 

BCCI to work with state associations

The BCCI is looking forward to working closely with the state associations in the software implementation, to get fast, accurate and cost-effective results and to prevent age fraud among athletes. 

“Though we are satisfied by the trial data run on the limited number of X-rays in our database, still we want to run a trial with a large number of X-rays (approximately 3800) across all associations to be fully satisfied with the working of the software.

“Hence, we are proposing to use this software on a trial basis along with our traditional method of manual interpretation of X-rays by the radiologists," the note added.

There have been several cases of age fraud found in the history of the game, which has tarnished the reputation of the game and the names of the legends associated with it.

The board, in June 2019 handed a Jammu & Kashmir pacer Rasikh Salam a two-year ban after he was found guilty of age fraud and providing an incorrect birth certificate.

The Under-19 World Cup player Manjot Kalra and Delhi batter Ankit Bawne are among a few names who have been found guilty of faking their age. 

The BCCI, later in August 2020 came up with a solution as they announced a 'voluntary disclosure scheme', according to which if an under-16 cricketer admits that he/she had manipulated their age, they will not be suspended or banned, rather they will be chosen to play in the older age-groups following verification. 

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