Rai wants quick inquiry, Diana fears cover-up

New Delhi, January 12 

The Committee of Administrators (CoA) chief, Vinod Rai, has proposed a quick inquiry into the much-criticised comments made by suspended cricketers Hardik Pandya and KL Rahul but Diana Edulji fears it will be construed as a “cover-up” job. Pandya and Rahul will be back in India by Saturday or early Sunday.  

Rai wants the inquiry to be finished by second ODI as the delay could affect team’s strength. “We must take a view by the time second ODI gets over as we cannot afford to debilitate team strength due to delinquent behaviour on the part of some player,” Rai wrote to Diana. Diana, however, has expressed reservation over BCCI CEO Rahul Johri, who was himself embroiled in sexual harassment allegations, conducting preliminary inquiry and fears a cover up”. “We should be in no hurry to conduct the inquiry as it would then look like a cover up job,” Edulji responded.

BCCI old guard alleges double standards     

Mumbai: Referring to the exoneration of BCCI CEO Rahul Johri in a sexual harassment case, BCCI’s old guard accused the current dispensation of “double standards” in dealing with cases related to players. Taking note of the suspension slapped on Hardik Pandya and KL Rahul, they said, “The members expressed shock at the double standards on display in dealing with issues related to players... and in dealing with issues related to the CEO, who was not even suspended.” Johri had received a clean chit in the sexual harassment allegations levelled against him by two women. — PTI