Vaibhav Sooryavanshi is headed to England, but he won’t be alone. Besides the travelling Indian contingent, the 15-year-old will be accompanied by his parents after the BCCI (Board of Control for Cricket in India) made a special provision in the youngster’s best interest.
The decision-makers fully understand the challenges of integrating someone so young into the senior setup and have therefore decided to send Sooryavanshi’s parents along to ensure he does not face any difficulties in acclimatising to foreign conditions. The development was confirmed to Hindustan Times Digital by BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia.
“He was selected to go with the senior team from the India A team to Sri Lanka. As he is a small child, he is still a minor. Earlier, he was travelling with his contemporaries. U19 World Cup and all. Those are all his age group. A little bit one year up or down, or about the same. But when he is travelling with the men’s team, who are all adults, therefore, we deem it proper that his parents or anybody from the family can travel with him to Sri Lanka,” Saikia said.
“Today, he got picked for the senior team. We will make a request to his parents. If they are willing to go, then they can go. In fact, his father is travelling to Sri Lanka tomorrow. That is our thing. And after that, if his parents also wish to go to England, BCCI will support that because he is a kid. So, he would need some time to assimilate with the senior boys. So, from that perspective, we are helping. This is not something we allow all parents to do. It is not that, but because he is 15 years old, he should feel comfortable, and he should take some time to adjust to the adult world.”
Sooryavanshi, currently in Sri Lanka with the India A squad for the tri-nation series against Sri Lanka A, is set to receive a further boost on Sunday with his father joining him.
