The ongoing controversy surrounding Indian opening batsman KL Rahul and all-rounder Hardik Pandya seems to have taken a different turn. The issue escalated on Thursday after CoA (Committee of Administrators) Chief Vinod Rai recommended a two-match ban for both KL Rahul and Hardik Pandya. Both the players can get into more trouble following their controversial comments on Koffee with Karan. While Hardik Pandya has already issued his apology on social media, Rahul has so far said nothing about the incident. The treasurer of BCCI (Board of Cricket Control India) Anirudh Chaudhry also raised the question about who granted permission to Hardik Pandya and KL Rahul to attend the show. He opined that BCCI should set an example similar to the Australian Cricket Board, who gave Steve Smith and David Warner a year long ban over the ball-tampering saga. He also ensured that such decision by BCCI would ensure that players do not imitate such behavior in the future. Pandya's comments drew criticism from all around the nation and as things stand today, both the players could get into further trouble. Meanwhile, Hotstar has even taken down Rahul and Hardik's Koffee with Karan episode. Slammed as misogynist and sexist, the investigation is underway to decide upon the fate of these players. Anirudh Chaudhry has also suggested that all the players should go through a sensitization process to avoid any such possible imitation in the future by other players. The only thing bothering this whole investigation is the idea of banning these players from playing. All things considered, both the players have issued an apology. BCCI could make sure that similar incidents don't happen by so many other means. Punishment in the form of barring these players from playing seems a little odd. This situation should be treated more with taking the character of these players into play, and I personally think that the spirit of cricket shouldn't miss out on two very talented players. What happened with Warner and Smith, a similar treatment that Rai spoke about is on a very different line when compared to the kind of mistake that these both have done. Both are equally worthy of punishment but on two different levels. My motive is not a justification for these two players but an opinion that banning them for two matches isn't sending the right message. BCCI should meet the issue with the idea of personal development more than anything and both players should just sent an apology ensuring that nothing of this manner will happen in the future.<doc-sep>Hardik Pandya KL Rahul recently made an appearance on Koffee With Karan Indian cricketers Hardik Pandya and KL Rahul could be handed a two-match ban each by the Board of control for Cricket in India (BCCI) following their controversial remarks on talk show Koffee With Karan. There was a huge outrage on social media ever since the two cricketers appeared on the popular talk show recently. In a letter to BCCI CEO Rahul Johri and CoA member Diana Edulji, CoA chief Vinod Rai asked the Indian board to ban both players for two matches each. "Apology has obviously been drafted by the agency. Doesn’t appear sincere. I am inclined to suggest a penalty but since I have not seen the clip, maybe Diana would like to suggest some penalty. There should be a penalty? What do you feel? Could be different for both players depending on what they said on the show," Johri said in his letter. Suggesting a two-match ban for both players, Rai added, "I have seen the remarks made by these two players on the show in print today. Very crass. No apology can cover it. I had asked Diana to suggest penalty because I had not seen the clip. I think we need to give both of them a two-match suspension. If Diana agrees, Rahul please draft an appropriate instruction and issue today as their explanations have come in. Separately please prepare an advisory to all BCCI contracted players and support staff." Vinod Rai, BCCI takes a tough stance against Hardik Pandya, suggests a 2 match suspension for both players, says 'apology not sincere' pic.twitter.com/Ored4Otmhc — TIMES NOW (@TimesNow) January 10, 2019 After receiving huge backlash on social media, Pandya took to Twitter on Wednesday to issue an apology. 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," he wrote. "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." While Pandya issued an apology, Rahul is yet to react to the controversy.<doc-sep>Hardik Pandya and KL Rahul are not confirmed to play IPL for now. Photo credits Will Hardik Pandya and KL Rahul play the 12th season of Indian Premier League (IPL)? This is the biggest question that is making the air after the suspension of the duo by BCCI. The release of the board clearly mentions that they will not be allowed to play in any tournament authorised by it, ICC or any state association. This also includes IPL and as of now, the participation of the duo in the T20 league remains under cloud. This is due to the fact that a set timeline for the inquiry into the case of Pandya and Rahul has not been set and it remains to be seen how much time will the committee take to deliver a judgement on the two players. It can take a week, two weeks or even a month. (Also Read: Three players who can replace KL Rahul in Indian team) (KL Rahul could be replaced by Manish Pandey in the ODI team. Photo credits: BCCI) After the judgement of the committee, both the players will have to serve the bans or pay fines or whatever the committee decides. Since the IPL starts on March 23, a ban for two months or so can see them miss the full duration of the IPL or a part of the T20 league. Their IPL future solely depends on the committee; the time it will take to announce the decision and the punishment which it will impose on the two cricketers. (Also Read: Three players who can replace Hardik Pandya in Indian team) Pandya was retained by Mumbai Indians ahead of 2018 IPL auction for a huge amount of Rs 11 Crore. He scored 260 runs and scalped 18 wickets in the previous season. KL Rahul was purchased by Kings XI Punjab for a sky-rocketing amount of Rs 11 Crore. He repaid the faith shown on him and shone with the bat, scoring 659 runs in the T20 league. It also saw him make his comeback to the ODI side and he has been with the team since then. If they are ruled out of the league, it will come as a big blow for the franchises of the two players. For now, they are returning back from Australia and will wait for a decision of the committee.<doc-sep>
Team India skipper Virat Kohli broke his silence on the ongoing controversy involving Hardik Pandya and KL Rahul, who made sexist comments on a TV talk show. Reacting to the comments made by the duo, Kohli said that Indian team doesn't align with the views and those were the opinions of the players. "We as the Indian cricket team and responsible cricketers don't align with those views, those were individual opinions. We are still waiting for a decision to be made," Kohli said at the press conference ahead of the first ODI against Australia in Sydney on Friday. "From the Indian cricket team's point of view, this changes nothing in our beliefs in the change room, it does nothing to the spirit we have have been able to create. Combinations will have to be thought of once the decision comes out," Kohli added. Kohli added that the two players "have understood the magnitude of what's happened". "Definitely it has to hit hard, they will definitely understand the things that have not gone right," Kohli said. According to news agency PTI, Pandya and KL Rahul on Friday were suspended pending an inquiry into their outrage-evoking comments. "Both Pandya and Rahul have been suspended pending an inquiry," Committee of Administrators (CoA) chairman Vinod Rai said. Hardik Pandya's sexist comments sparked social media outrage and prompted the player to apologise. Pandya said he "got a bit carried away" as he explained his bragging about his prowess with women on the show that aired Sunday. Pandya and KL Rahul are currently on India's tour of Australia. On Thursday, COA chairman Vinod Rai recommended a two-match ban for the duo but a decision on them will be announced today. The recommendation came a day after the 25-year-old Pandya posted his apology on social media. "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," Pandya said on Twitter. "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," he added. Pandya, who was in the squad that beat Australia for the first time in an away Test series, boasted about his success with multiple women. "You are just watching and observing how they move as I said I am a little from the black side (influenced by West Indies culture) so I have to see how they (women) move first," he said. Pandya also said he had bragged to his parents after losing his virginity. He was quickly slammed for his views on women. Later on Thursday, BCCI treasurer Anirudh Chaudhry called for an inquiry to find out whether or not the two sought permission from the BCCI to appear on the show, and if yes, Chaudhry wants to know who gave him the permission. "The provisions of the earlier contracts and the practice in place would have required these contracted players to seek permission to appear on the show. Was such a permission sought? Was such a permission granted? If so, by whom?" he asked. Promoted Pandya and Rahul also caused a social media stir for comments on the same show when they said current India skipper Virat Kohli was a better batsman than the country's cricket icon Sachin Tendulkar. (With AFP Inputs)