(Photo Courtesy: The Hindu)
All rounder Hardik Pandya and opener KL Rahul are set to miss the ODI series vs Australia after being suspended following their comments on ‘Koffee with Karan’.
Hardik Pandya and KL Rahul have been suspended pending an inquiry into their comments during a TV show, ruling them out of the ODI series against Australia starting Saturday. The cricketers were the talk of the town after their remarks on the TV show ‘Koffee with Karan’ hosted by Karan Johar.
“Both Pandya and Rahul have been suspended pending an inquiry,” the Committee of Administrators (CoA) chairman Vinod Rai is quoted as saying by PTI.
According to reports, the two will be issued fresh notices before a formal enquiry begins. The Indian team management will now decide on whether they would want to keep the two with the team or send them back. But it is now understood that the duo is expected be retained with the team as the backlash back home could be severe.
In case the two are sent back home, it will be the likes of Rishabh Pant and Manish Pandey that will be in contention to replace them.
The decision to hand them suspensions came after Rai’s CoA colleague Diana Edulji recommended suspension till further action against the two. Edulji had initially suggested a two-match suspension for the duo but referred the matter to the legal cell after Vinod Rai agreed with her and recommended the same.
“It is imperative that players be put under suspension till further course of action is decided for this misconduct as was done in case of (BCCI) CEO (Rahul Johri) when he was sent on leave on sexual harassment matter,” read Edulji’s response to the legal opinion which is in possession of PTI.
Pandya had boasted about hooking up with multiple women and being open about it with his parents during the interview. Rahul was, however, a shade more restrained in his responses on relationships and women.
Following this incident, it is being speculated that BCCI could bar players from appearing on entertainment shows hereafter.
Also Read:
Virat Kohli most valuable celebrity of 2018 with brand value of $170.9 Million
