MCA slaps three-year ban on Mumbai U-16 player for obscene gestures towards teammate

A member of the Mumbai Under-16 cricket team has been banned for a period of three years for obscene behaviour towards a teammate.

The Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) handed the punishment to the player earlier this week, citing ‘ugliest behaviour’ on his part.

According to a report on The Hindu , the player was involved in an altercation with teammate during the Vijay Merchant Trophy quarter-final clash against Uttar Pradesh, with the accused reportedly making obscene gestures during the incident. Team manager Vighnesh Kadam had reported the altercation to the committee, with the victim formally lodging a complaint after the team’s return to the Maharashtra capital.

“The ad-hoc managing committee found you guilty of gross misconduct and bringing the name of the association to disrepute,” read a letter signed by MCA chief executive CS Naik and Dr Unmesh Khanvilkar issued on 15 January.

The player’s ban will end on 14 January, 2022.

The development comes not long after the Committee of Administrators’ (CoA) decision to slap suspensions pending inquiry on Hardik Pandya and KL Rahul , who found themselves embroiled in controversy for their sexist remarks on TV show Koffee with Karan.

Both Pandya and Rahul flew back home from Australia after the suspension, and their participation in the upcoming tour of New Zealand hangs in balance after the CoA passed the responsibility of taking a decision on their fate to the Supreme Court.