No T20 Including Ipl For Punjab Under-21 Players

January 18, 2012

In a significant decision aimed to encourage players to hone and perfect their skills first, Punjab Cricket Association has decided not to give NOC to any player registered with them under the age of 21 years to take part in Twenty20 games for any club/team/institution including the cash-rich and glamorous IPL.

The decision was taken at the Administrative Committee meeting of the PCA at Mohali, on Sunday chaired by PCA president I S Bindra.

"The shortest version of the game being played by the junior players is causing this damage," Pandove felt.

However, PCA committee felt that there can be exceptional and extraordinary talent which matures early and reaches a stage of perfection. In order not to deny opportunities to such players, exception would only be made for contracted players of the BCCI even if, they are below the age of 21.

At the moment, there are only three contracted players from the state - Harbhajan Singh, Yuvraj Singh and Rahul Sharma, all of whom are over 21 years of age.

Asked if this step would invite criticism from different quarters, Pandove said, "Look, we are the first Association to take this step in the interest of players, many of whom I know will not like it. We strongly felt that 17-21 years are formative years for any player and there should be no distraction. The step which we have taken is in the larger interest of players and country's cricket as a whole."