Why Vaibhav Sooryavanshi Will Have A Separate Dressing Room In England

LONDON-Teenage batting sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi will use a separate dressing room from his India teammates during the upcoming five-match T20I series in England, beginning in Durham on July 1, to comply with mandatory child safeguarding policies.

The arrangement is in line with under-16 safeguarding guidelines laid down by the International Cricket Council (ICC) and the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB).

Under the rules, Sooryavanshi will be allowed inside the Indian team’s main dressing room for tactical meetings, strategy discussions and match-day interactions, but will use a separate changing room for changing his clothes at all five T20I venues.

“This is an ICC event, with their safeguarding procedures active as they have jurisdiction. A safeguarding concern occurring during the event may (in some 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 (TLO) for the Indian team to discuss requirements and expectations for the player while he is in the UK,” the ECB was quoted as saying in ‘The Guardian’ on June 24.

Sooryavanshi’s parents will accompany him throughout the tour and stay at the official team hotel. Earlier, Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) Secretary Devajit Saikia said the board would fully sponsor their travel and accommodation expenses.

“Each County Safeguarding Officer for the relevant cricket venue is also working closely with the Team Liaison Officer to ensure venue protocols and arrangements (specifically changing room environments) are understood and adhered to. This is conducted via safeguarding risk assessments.

“It is our understanding that the player’s parents will be travelling with him at all times. They are staying in the same hotel, which is outside of usual protocol, but agreed on this occasion due to his age. This additional measure provides us with further confidence that he has family members who can provide the additional level of support and care,” the ECB added.

It remains unclear whether similar arrangements will apply during India’s two-match T20I series against Ireland in Belfast, beginning on June 26. (IANS)