Vaibhav Sooryavanshi will be required to use his own dressing room that is separate from the rest of his India team-mates during the upcoming five-match T20I series in England, in accordance with ECB safeguarding regulations for players who are under the age of 16.
Sooryavanshi, 15, will be allowed in the India dressing room during matches and for team talks but will have to use the separate dressing room while getting changed. Alternatively, he could change at a designated time in the main dressing room on his own, and leave when his senior team-mates change. The development was first reported by the Guardian on Wednesday.
Cricinfo understands that similar regulations will apply to India's two T20Is against Ireland in Belfast this week. India have been given three separate rooms in the pavilion at the Civil Service Cricket Ground in Stormont, and have been advised of the relevant laws.
In Premier League football, Arsenal players Ethan Nwaneri and Max Dowman were required to use separate changing rooms from team-mates when playing first-team matches before they turned 16 under similar regulations.
"This is an ICC event, with their safeguarding procedures active as they have jurisdiction," an ECB spokesperson said. "A safeguarding concern occurring during the event may 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. Each County Safeguarding Officer for the relevant cricket venue is also working closely with the Team Liaison Officer to ensure venue protocols and arrangements 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 that can provide the additional level of support and care."
Although the spokesperson referenced ICC jurisdiction, Cricinfo understands that the global body's regulations would not apply to a bilateral series, and that the ICC does not have specific regulations around under-16 players.
BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia had stated earlier that Sooryavanshi would be accompanied by his parents on the tour, and that the board would bear their expenses.
Sooryavanshi has already been part of various men's dressing rooms in his fledgling career - for his state teams in domestic cricket, for Rajasthan Royals in the IPL, and for India A during the recent tri-series in Sri Lanka. If he plays a T20I against Ireland or England, Sooryavanshi will become the youngest Indian men's debutant, breaking Sachin Tendulkar's record of 16 years and 205 days.
India play two T20Is against Ireland in Belfast on June 26 and 28, before travelling to England to play five T20Is followed by three ODIs. The T20Is are in Chester-le-Street (July 1), Manchester (July 4), Nottingham (July 7), Bristol (July 9) and Southampton (July 11).