Former Indian cricketer Wasim Jaffer has requested parents of budding cricketers to not commit age frauds to ensure their children get to play in school or college level competitions.

With the COVID-19 pandemic bringing a halt to the sports competitions at school/college levels, age fraud might become a more common factor. The parents might want to add a sporting year to their children’s lives to make up for 2020.

Jaffer has played a lot of cricket in Mumbai from age-group competitions. He has been a witness to the various gimmicks that players or their parents pick up to get an extra year playing sports.

IPL 2021: "Hamare paas kya bachega," Jaffer tells RCB fans asking Rahul and Gayle back

The Mumbai Schools Sports Association (MSSA) - the body that conducts sports competitions at the school level – has not been able to conduct any events since March 2020. MSSA conducted an online educational workshop on Monday, January 25, and had Wasim Jaffer as the chief guest.

Jaffer said during the MSSA online workshop, "I would request parents not to encourage age-fraud. Surely their children would not like to start their careers on a wrong note.”

While he was more serious during the workshop, he returned to Twitter to state it again, but humorously. He wrote, “In short 'Umar Gul' mat Karo is my sincere appeal to parents and coaches of budding cricketers! @BCCIDomestic”

In short 'Umar Gul' mat Karo is my sincere appeal to parents and coaches of budding cricketers! @BCCIdomestic https://t.co/CwVRhtT6nY

— Wasim Jaffer (@WasimJaffer14) January 26, 2021