Suspended Hardik Pandya, KL Rahul to return home for now

Finally, India all-rounder Hardik Pandya and batsman KL Rahul have been put under suspension on Friday for making "crass" comments on a television talk show.

The duo is to be sent back home immediately from the ongoing One-Day International series in Australia after the Committee of Administrators (COA) issued fresh show-cause notice on the recommendation of the BCCI's legal team for comments made on a talk show, Koffee with Karan.

Middle-order batsman Manish Pandey and all-rounder Vijay Shankar are likely to be added to the squad as replacements for limited-overs series against Australia and New Zealand, though no formal announcement has been made so far in this regard.

It all started with COA member Diana Edulji asking legal team for its opinion on the entire episode of indiscipline. The former Indian women's skipper cited suspension of BCCI's CEO Rahul Johri recently in the sexual harassment case. "It is imperative that players be put under suspension till further course of action is decided for this misconduct as was done in case of (BCCI) CEO (Rahul Johri) when he was sent on leave on sexual harassment matter," stated Edulji's letter to her colleague Vinod Rai.

Only after the legal team replied did COA send out a suspension note to both players, reading: "You are aware that enquiry and proceedings against you for misconduct and indiscipline have been initiated under Rule 41 of the BCCI Constitution and the same are presently pending. In terms of Rule 41(6) of the BCCI Constitution, you are hereby suspended with immediate effect from participating in any manner whatsoever in any match or function or event or activity that is authorized, organised, sanctioned, recognised or supported in any way by the BCCI, the ICC or any State Association, until final adjudication of the matter."

Severe punishment

Going by the BCCI's insiders view there is every possibility that "Pandya stands to receive a severe punishment as his choice of words seem to have been on borderline sexism".

Rahul is expected to get away with a warning and a fine.

"His take on matters related to women has taken aback the country," is the opinion expressed by top BCCI officials.

Though, BCCI treasurer Anirudh Chaudhary had called for a strict punishment be handed out to Pandya and Rahul along the lines of IPL ban, the legal team in its report to Edulji opined that under the BCCI's new constitution, the duo cannot be charged under the violation of Code of Conduct.

"The BCCI Constitution does not define the term 'misconduct' and does not provide any guidance on what the said term entails in the present context," stated legal team.

As per the new constitution, the power to take action lies with the Apex Council in case of misconduct. "The CEO has to report it to the ombudsman, who will decide the quantum of punishment, which will be final and binding."

Since, the BCCI doesn't have an Apex Council, hence the legal team has pointed out that the COA can act as a substitute. CEO Rahul Johri now has to table a report with in 15 days.

Once Johri tables the report, the legal team has suggested to the COA to find an ad-hoc ombudsman, who once taking charge will have to adjudicate on the matter with in six months, failing which the suspension will cease.

DID YOU KNOW?

Only second time: Hardik Pandya and K L Rahul — being sent back from an overseas tour — is only the second such instance in 82 years. Way back in 1936, the legendary Lala Amarnath was sent back from India’s tour of England by the erstwhile captain Maharaja of Vijianagaram or ‘Vizzy’ for alleged insubordination during a first-class game.