Let Pandya, Rahul play while inquiry is on: BCCI prez to CoA

New Delhi, January 19

BCCI acting president CK Khanna urged the Committee of Administrators (CoA) to lift the suspension on Hardik Pandya and KL Rahul for their much-criticised sexist remarks and refused to convene a Special General Meeting on the matter. Khanna said calling the SGM to appoint an ombudsman to investigate the two players’ conduct, as demanded by the Board officials, wouldn’t be right as the Supreme Court is due to take up the issue next week. Pandya and Rahul have been suspended pending an inquiry for their sexist comments on a TV chat show.

“They made a mistake and they have already been suspended and called back from the series against Australia. They have also submitted an unconditional apology,” Khanna wrote in a letter to the CoA. “I suggest that pending inquiry we reinstate both the cricketers into the Indian squad immediately and allow them to join the team in New Zealand at the earliest.” The CoA wants the Supreme Court to appoint an ombudsman to decide the fate of the two players, who have already missed the ODI series against Australia and are set to sit out of the tour of New Zealand as well.

Around 14 state units, mainly former BCCI president N Srinivasan’s loyalists, had requested Khanna to convene an emergency SGM, which needs to be called in 10 days. BCCI treasurer Anirudh Chaudhry also wrote to Khanna requesting for an early SGM, so that the board members could take a call on the appointment of an ombudsman. “As per constitution of BCCI, an ombudsman can be appointed at the Annual General Meeting (AGM). And moreover the matter (appointment of ombudsman) is already sub-judice,” Khanna replied to Chaudhry. Khanna also sought BCCI acting secretary Amitabh Choudhary’s view.

However, a BCCI official agreed that CoA chief Vinod Rai should have vetoed co-member Diana Edulji’s demand for provisional suspension of the two players, and taken a call on the quantum of suspension for them. — PTI