Diana Edulji asks board GM Saba Karim to resist from talking to media

A day after the controversy over Hardik Pandya and KL Rahul was temporarily resolved, it was Board of Control for Cricket in India's (BCCI) GM cricket operations and former India stumper Saba Karim's turn to face flak for his comments on educating both men and women cricketers of all age groups on gender sensitisation.

The issue has been discussed within the BCCI for quite some time. More so after one of the members, Veena Gowda, of the three-member special inquiry commission advised CEO Rahul Johri to go through the gender sensitisation classes in the wake of sexual harassment charges against him.

Karim, over last few days, has been trying to explain how Team India players will be asked to attend gender sensitisation workshops when they are at the National Cricket Academy (NCA).

The Supreme Court-appointed Committee of Administrators (COA) member Diana Edulji has asked Karim to keep away from commenting with regards to the senior national teams. DNA has in its possession Edulji's letter, which asks Karim to follow board rules and regulations before coming out in media.

"It is very strange that GM Cricket Operations is functioning with scant respect of the rules and regulations of the BCCI. His statement regarding sensitisation has not gone down well with the senior team. This team does not fall under his jurisdiction. This is total insubordination of his duties," wrote Edulji on Friday.

"BCCI has a media cell and they can issue statements after due process. Saba kindly resist speaking to the media. Kindly explain your actions."

Even board's acting secretary Amitabh Choudhary on Thursday asked Karim to avoid interacting with media on such sensitive issue.

"This news item is purportedly on the basis of your interaction with the media. I would hasten to add this is not the first time that you have spoken on behalf of the BCCI. Please let me know the provision of the contract appointing you as GM which permits you to speak to the media," Choudhary had shot off a letter.

On the other hand, COA chief Vinod Rai invited more controversy on the similar issue by suggesting that "CEO Rahul Johri is willing to undergo gender sensitisation process and it should be done in next 10 days".

Reacting to Rai's reported statement, two senior officials questioned whether Johri was given a choice or was he supposed to undergo gender sensitisation after the allegations of sexual harassment were made against him.

"The CEO is willing to undergo gender sensitisation process. There is no issue there," Rai has been quoted as saying by a news agency on Friday.

"Has a permission of CEO been sought before making such a statement? Has the former CAG forgotten that one of the inquiry panel member (Gowda) recommended gender sensitisation classes for the CEO after finding his behaviour 'unprofessional and inappropriate' on one occasion?" asked a senior BCCI official.

Even Edulji wanted CEO to be sacked during the course of inquiry. It was her objection on the choice of agency (Kapgrow) to be hired for the gender sensitisation classes that forced Rai on the backfoot.