NEW DELHI: Vaibhav Sooryavanshi’s rapid rise in cricket continues to attract attention. The 15-year-old batting sensation from Bihar, who recently received his first call-up to the Indian team, has been traveling with the team for the upcoming white-ball tour of England. If he is picked for the first T20I against Ireland in Belfast on Friday, he could become India’s youngest international cricketer, breaking a record currently held by the legendary. Sachin Tendulkar.India will play two T20Is against Ireland before taking on England in a five-match T20I series starting next week in Durham.According to a report by The Guardian, Sooryavanshi will have to use a separate dressing room throughout the tour due to safeguarding rules. ICC rules, along with ECB policies, do not allow players under the age of 16 to share dressing room facilities with adult players.As a result, special arrangements will be made everywhere, with the ECB working with them BCCI to ensure all protocols are followed. Sooryavanshi’s parents are also expected to accompany him during the tour and stay in the same hotel as the team, an exception that has been approved due to his age.“This is an ICC event, with its safeguarding procedures active as far as they have jurisdiction. A safeguarding concern that occurs during the event can, in certain circumstances, be managed by the ICC. In addition to this, the ECB Safe Hands policy applies at all times. The Cricket Regulator is in contact with the Team Liaison Officer for the Indian team to discuss the needs and expectations of the player in the United Kingdom.“Each County Safeguarding Officer for the relevant cricket venue also works closely with the Team Liaison Officer to ensure that venue protocols and arrangements, particularly the changing room environment, are understood and respected. This is done to safeguard risk assessments. It is our understanding that the player’s parents travel with him at all times. age. This additional measure gives us more confidence that he has family members who can provide the additional level of support and care,” the ECB added.Separate changing rooms for under-16 athletes are standard practice in English sport. However, no such rule seems to have existed in India, where Sooryavanshi shared facilities with his Rajasthan Royals teammates during his time there. IPL seasons
