Details of the full e-mail conversation between BCCI and CoA members on Hardik Pandya, KL Rahul row

India cricket stars Hardik Pandya and KL Rahul’s immediate future is in limbo following their controversial remarks on television talk show Koffee with Karan. The two, especially Pandya, is facing heavy backlash for the comments that have been condemned as ‘sexist’ and ‘misogynistic’ across social media. The whole cricketing fraternity has taken a shot at the duo for their act which has brought disrepute to the game.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and the Committee of Administrators (CoA) then decided to take the matters in their own hands. Both Pandya and Rahul were sent home from Australia by the board and have been put on suspension pending inquiry. This has cost them their places in the team for the ongoing ODI series against Australia and also the subsequent tour to New Zealand.

While everyone is awaiting the board’s final verdict, some difference of opinion among the CoA members – Vinod Rai and Diana Edulji – has slowed down the whole process.

The Indian Express has now accessed the internal e-mail correspondence between CoA members with BCCI office bearers Rahul Johri (CEO), Amitabh Choudhary (joint secretary), CK Khanna (acting president) and Anirudh Chaudhry (treasurer) along with the legal team. The exchange of emails reveal how things transpired following the controversial episode.

It all began with Johri issuing a show-cause notice to Pandya following his statements which were deemed ‘crass’ by Rai. In response, Pandya wrote, “Dear Sir, Please find attached my reply to the BCCI show cause notice. Also attached are the screenshots of my public apology as issued by me on my social media handles this morning.”

However, Rai was not convinced with the apology and shot back by writing: “The 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 upon what they have said in the show.”

“I have seen the remarks made by these two players on the show in print today. Very crass. No apology can cover it,” he added.

Edulji then added another dimension to the case by seeking an opinion from the legal team. Indranil Deshmukh then advised BCCI to adhere to Rule 41 of the Constitution and seek an explanation from Pandya and Rahul as to why they should not be proceeded against for misconduct and indiscipline.

Last week,  Rai recommended for a swift inquiry. He wanted the investigation to be over before the second India-Australia ODI. However, Edulji was against it and wrote: “We should be in no hurry to conduct the inquiry as then it will look like a cover up job being done. The behaviour of the players have been very controversial and should not be co realted [sic] with delibating [sic] team strength.”

World Cup hangs in balance:

Meanwhile, the recent fiasco could cost Pandya and Rahul their spots in the World Cup. Edulji has already hinted that the officials will show no mercy and would conduct a thorough investigation.

In one of her emails, Edulji also pointed out a precedent from 1936 surrounding Lala Amarnath being sent back for alleged insubordination as well as an incident that took place in the last year’s Football World Cup.

“There has been a precedent when Lala Amarnath was sent back from UK. Such strict steps will ensure that no one henceforth makes such loose talk which are detrimental to the image of Cricketers, Cricket and BCCI at large. For your knowledge, in the recently concluded football World Cup a Croatian player was sent back after their first game on disciplinary grounds, Croatia went on to win the World Cup,” she wrote.

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