Hardik Pandya and KL Rahul suspended, sent back home to face probe by BCCI; set to miss Australia and New Zealand tour

Hardik Pandya and KL Rahul have been suspended from playing any form of competitive cricket pending inquiry by BCCI after their comments about women on TV show Koffee with Karan. Both the players, who were part of India’s squad for the ODI series against Australia and New Zealand, have been asked by the cricket board to return to India. [caption id=“attachment_5881711” align=“alignleft” width=“380”] File image of Hardik Pandya and KL Rahul. Reuters[/caption] The length of their suspensions is not known, but the duo look set to miss the one-day international series in Australia starting on Saturday and a limited-overs tour of New Zealand. The Committee of Administrators (CoA) asked the pair to explain the comments and Pandya apologised but after considering their reply, the BCCI decided to charged both players for misconduct and indiscipline. “The CoA in accordance with the BCCI has decided to suspend Hardik Pandya and KL Rahul from playing any form of cricket after their comments on a TV show. The duo will now return to India and an enquiry and proceedings will be made against them for misconduct and indiscipline that have been initiated under Rule 41 of the BCCI Constitution that states as under:- In terms of Rule 41(6) of the BCCI Constitution, the players are hereby suspended with immediate effect from participating in any manner whatsoever in any match or function or event or activity that is authorized, organized, sanctioned, recognized or supported in any way by the BCCI, the ICC or any State Association, until final adjudication of the matter,” BCCI said in a statement. “The CoA first sent out a notice to both players concerned to which the players responded with an apology. After considering their reply, it was decided that the BCCI would proceed against both for misconduct and indiscipline.” “The duo is now called upon to provide an explanation as to why they should not be proceeded against for misconduct and indiscipline under Rule 41 of the BCCI Constitution within a period of 7 (seven) days. This is without prejudice to the BCCI’s rights and contentions, all of which are hereby expressly reserved.” The cricket board also added that the selection committee will soon name the replacements for the ODI series against Australia and for the tour of New Zealand. Ahead of the first one-dayer against Australia on Saturday, India captain Virat Kohli said the comments made by the Rahul and Pandya are not supported by their team mates. “From the Indian cricket team point of view, any inappropriate comments that are made in that scenario are something that we definitely don’t support,” Kohli told reporters. “The two concerned players felt what has gone wrong and they have understood the magnitude. It has to hit anyone hard, they will definitely understand the things that have not gone right. “These are purely individual opinions … we definitely, as the Indian cricket team, do not support views like that and that has been communicated.” With Reuters inputs