BCCI wants Hardik Pandya-KL Rahul matter to end before the World Cup

Justice DK Jain, the BCCI ombudsman, has issued notices to Hardik Pandya and KL Rahul, asking them to be present for hearings in the controversy related to their remarks on a popular tv show earlier this year.  The hearings will take place in Mumbai, with Pandya’s scheduled to meet Jain on April 9 and Rahul’s the next day. And the BCCI now wants the matter to be sorted as quickly as possible keeping in mind the ICC World Cup.

Both Rahul and Pandya landed in hot waters after going over the board during the talk show. Their comments were slammed across the nation and were widely labelled as misogynist. The BCCI had then called back the duo from the tour of Australia before suspending them. A few days later, the Committee of Administrator lifted the suspension pending the appointment of an ombudsman. With Justice Jain at the helm now, the Indian board is keen to end this issue.

Rahul and Pandya will be mostly the part of India’s World Cup squad which will commence from May 30. While Pandya’s place was never in doubt, there were big question marks over Rahul’s. However, selectors hinted that Rahul is in the scheme of things by naming him in the ODI squad for the series against Australia which was India’s last international assignment before the showpiece event in England and Wales.

A senior BCCI executive said that all the board officials are on the same page as far as ending the issue is concerned. He also stated that the officials feel that the punishment cannot be bigger than the crime. The players have already paid for their mistake. He also confirmed that both the players have already apologised to the board.

“Everyone in the board feels that this issue needs to come to an end. The players committed a mistake and there is no two-way about it. But the players were sent home from the tour of Australia, they did apologise for their mistake and are also set to depose before the ombudsman.

“With the World Cup around the corner, the sentiment is that the matter should end here,” an executive was quoted saying on CricBuzz.

Quick action

Another BCCI official has said that Justice Jain is expected to submit his report within a week of meeting the players. In that case, it means the case will be done and dusted by mid-April.

“There is no timeline as such, but everybody understands that substantial match loss has already happened and the punishment cannot be bigger than the crime. The ombudsman will in all likelihood submit his report within a week of meeting the players and getting their side of the story,” the functionary said.

Jain will meet the two players around the time Mumbai Indians and Kings XI Punjab lock horns in the ongoing IPL at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai on April 10. Pandya is playing for Mumbai while Rahul is playing his trade for Kings XI.

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