In order to detect age fraud, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCC) is all set to use a software on an experimental basis. It will be used alongside the existing TW3 method with an intention to save costs by as much as 80 percent.

According to a PTI report, the BCCI currently uses the TW3 method (based on X-ray of left hand and wrist) to determine age.

The TW3 method costs Rs 2400 per bone test and takes about 3-4 days while the proposed usage of BoneXpert Software will give instant result and costs only Rs 288.

Explaining the entire process, a BCCI note read: "The X-rays are taken at the respective home centres of state associations at the X-ray centre in the presence of independent BCCI observer and sent to the BCCI AVP Department.

"BCCI AVP department collates them in a proper format and send it to two (2) independent radiologists on the BCCI panel for interpretation of bone age.

“Reporting also takes time since we have about 4 radiologists doing ratings of 38 associations and every radiologist does interpretation of about 8-9 associations.

"It can take any time between one day to three-four days to get the reporting of associations from the consultants depending upon the workload on them and number of players. Entire process takes around two (2) months to be completed."

Age fudging is widespread at the age group level across the country and the BCCI has decided to work with the state associations on the experiment.

"Though we are satisfied by the trial data run on the limited number of X-rays in our databank, still we want to run a trial with large number of X-rays (approximately 3800) across all associations to be fully satisfied with the working of the software.

"Hence, we are proposing to use this software on a trial basis along with our traditional method of manual interpretation of x-rays by the radiologists," the note added.

(With PTI inputs)