New Delhi: The Committee of Administrators (CoA) chief Vinod Rai recommended Thursday a two-ODI ban on India players Hardik Pandya and KL Rahul for their controversial comments on women in the chat show ‘Koffee with Karan’, but fellow COA member Diana Edulji referred the matter to the BCCI’s legal cell.
If the ban is imposed, the duo could miss the first two matches of a three-ODI series against Australia starting Saturday in Sydney.
“I am not convinced with Hardik’s explanation and I have recommended a two-match ban for both players. However the final decision will be taken once Diana gives her go ahead,” Rai told this agency.
Pandya’s comments were slammed as misogynistic and sexist, prompting the CoA to issue a show cause notice Wednesday. The all-rounder, in response, said he was sincerely regretful and would not repeat the behaviour.
On the show however, he had boasted about hooking up with multiple women and also how open he has been about it with his parents.
Rahul, the more restrained of the two during the interview by film-maker Karan Johar, has not yet reacted to the social media storm. The two players were given 24 hours to explain themselves by the BCCI.
“Diana has sought legal opinion whether the duo can be banned. So, obviously a decision will be taken once she gives her nod. As far as I am concerned, the comments were crass, in bad taste and unacceptable,” informed Rai.
Edulji also sought the opinion of BCCI acting president CK Khanna, acting secretary Amitabh Chaudhary and treasurer Anirudh Chaudhry on the issue.
Responding to her query, Anirudh recommended a suspension for the two and a gender sensitisation programme for them.
“The players must be immediately suspended pending a proper inquiry and must be allowed to join the team (if selected) only once they have gone through a proper sensitisation in addition to serving a ban, if imposed upon them,” Anirudh said.
Anirudh also said there should also be an investigation into how the two players appeared on an entertainment show.
“…the provisions of the earlier contracts and the practice in place would have required these contracted players to seek permission to appear on the show. Was such a permission sought? Was such a permission granted? If so, by whom?” he asked in his response to Edulji.
Anirudh asserted the loose talk on women could also make the two players susceptible to approaches by bookmakers through ‘honey-traps’.
PTI