12 January 2019 05:13 pm Views - 2286
Indian cricket's governing body has ordered batsman KL Rahul and allrounder Hardik Pandya to return home after their suspensions for controversial comments about women on a TV show.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) banned the pair with immediate effect after fallout from the talk show earlier this week.
Rahul and Pandya, both of whom have featured recently in all formats for India , have been widely criticised for their remarks, widely construed as sexist, during the talk show Koffee with Karan.
As a consequence, the BCCI revealed Rahul and Pandya would not feature in "any form of cricket" and return to India to answer charges of misconduct and indiscipline.
The pair will miss the entire three-match ODI series in Australia, set to start on Saturday at the SCG, followed by the tour of New Zealand, with the BCCI set to name replacements in due course.
Pandya was unlikely to play in the first one day international prior to the controversial comments. (AAP)
A statement on the BCCI's official website read: "The CoA (Committee of Administrators), in accordance with the BCCI, has decided to suspend Hardik Pandya and KL Rahul from playing any form of cricket after their comments on a TV show.
"The duo will now return to India and an inquiry and proceedings will be made against them for misconduct and indiscipline that have been initiated under Rule 41 of the BCCI constitution.
"The duo is now called upon to provide an explanation as to why they should not be proceeded against for misconduct and indiscipline under Rule 41 of the BCCI constitution within a period of seven days."
Indian captain Virat Kohli said on Friday the "inappropriate comments" were something he and his team "definitely don't support".
Pandya has since expressed remorse, writing on social media: "I would like to apologise to everyone concerned who I may have hurt in any way.
"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." -AAP