On Sunday, Indian all-rounder Hardik Pandya along with wicket-keeper/batsman KL Rahul appeared on the popular TV show Koffee With Karan, hosted by renowned filmmaker and producer Karan Johar. During the chat, both the cricketers especially Hardik Pandya made sexist comments which have not gone well with the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI). The cricketing body in India has issued a show cause notice and sought an explanation within 24 hours for their remarks on women on the show.
“We have sent show cause notices to Hardik Pandya and K L Rahul for their comments. They have been given 24 hours to give an explanation,” Chairman of the Committee of Administrators that runs the BCCI, Vinod Rai, told a leading news agency.
“This attempt at an apology does in no way bring the issue to closure. This merely shows how lightly he takes the gravely serious issue of respecting women. His conduct was unacceptable. He needs to understand the impact the utterances of an international cricketer have in this country but more importantly, he needs to learn how to differentiate between the right and the wrong. Right now he seems to merely respond to the outrage and not to his own thought process and conduct,” a senior BCCI official shared.
The show cause by BCCI came hours after Pandya issued an apology to his fans as he tweeted, “After reflecting on my comments on Koffee with Karan, I would like to apologise to everyone concerned who I may have hurt in any way. Honestly, I got a bit carried away with the nature of the show. In no way did I mean to disrespect or hurt anyone’s sentiments. Respect.”
— hardik pandya (@hardikpandya7) January 9, 2019
As reported by PTI, the BCCI is now also contemplating barring cricketers from appearing on any non-cricket shows. “It will be considered whether players should even be allowed to appear on such shows which have got nothing to do with cricket,” a BCCI source told PTI.
A senior BCCI official said, “According to the new BCCI constitution, Section 41 (c) which deals with misconduct or breach by players, the preliminary enquiry has to be conducted by the CEO within 48 hours, who will then submit his report to the Apex Council in not more than 15 days. For now, the two players are not being recalled from the tour. They will speak to the CEO from Australia.”
All-rounder Pandya who had been out of action since September due to a back injury sustained at the Asia Cup, returned to the Indian squad for the three-match ODI series starting 12 January.
