In a unique move, young cricketer Vaibhav Sooryavanshi will have his own dressing room separate from his Indian teammates during the upcoming T20I series in England. This arrangement is to comply with child safeguarding policies. Sooryavanshi will be allowed in the main team dressing room for meetings and discussions but will change in a separate room at all match venues.
The protocol for Sooryavanshi aligns with strict under-16 protective guidelines set by the ICC and ECB. The player’s parents will accompany him on the UK tour and stay in team hotels, with all expenses covered by the BCCI. The ECB is coordinating with the Indian team’s liaison officer to ensure compliance with safeguarding measures.
While Sooryavanshi has shared dressing rooms in domestic and IPL cricket, this tour will mark his international debut. It remains to be seen if similar restrictions will apply during India’s T20I games in Ireland. Such arrangements are common in European sports for underage athletes, ensuring their safety and well-being.
