Sunil Gavaskar hails BCCI's decision to send back Hardik Pandya and KL Rahul home

Former India skipper Sunil Gavaskar has become the latest high-profile name to lash out at Hardik Pandya and KL Rahul for their obscene remarks on Koffee with Karan. The legendary cricketer has also lauded the BCCI’s decision to suspend the duo and ask them to return home from Australia where Team India are playing a three-match ODI series. Both the players have been enduring severe scrutiny for making comments that have been condemned as sexist across social media.

Pandya bragged about his prowess with women which triggered concern about the culture within the squad. It would not be wrong to say that his comments brought the entire Indian cricket fraternity in disrepute. As a consequence, BCCI has not hesitated in suspending the cricketers.

The board took the decision on Friday, suspending the duo from playing across formats pending an inquiry. Consequently, both the players have returned home from Australia and have been ruled out of the ongoing ODI series as well as the ODI and T20I series in New Zealand.

Upon their arrival at home, they will have seven days to explain why proceedings shouldn’t be made against them for misconduct and indiscipline under Rule 41 of the BCCI Constitution. Pandya and Rahul are also in danger of facing bans.

The cricketing fraternity has hailed the BCCI for the way they have handled the whole episode and now Gavaskar has also joined the chorus.

“They [the BCCI] have dealt with it [the controversy]. From what I read in the newspapers today, they have sent them back or asked them to come back. That’s a right way to send a signal,” Gavaskar said while talking on Sony Six.

“If you do things that bring your team and the game into disrepute, then you can’t be part of the team. Of course, the inquiry will then establish what further action, if at all needed, has to be taken,” he added.

The legendary batsman proceeded by saying that sending back the players home was the right thing to do after imposing the suspension.

“They have been asked to come back and I believe it’s the correct step because you can’t have suspended players travelling with the team or staying in the same room. They have got to be kept away. Otherwise what’s the point of the suspension? If they are going to enjoy the perks of being with the team,” he said.

Would not travel in the same bus with them’

Gavaskar is not the only cricketer to slam Pandya and Rahul. On Friday, veteran off-spinner Harbhajan Singh also came down hard on the two. He went as far as saying that he would not want to stay on the same team bus with Pandya or Rahul.

“I will not travel with these two guys in the same bus because if my daughter, if my wife is travelling in the team bus.. how would they feel? You are looking at women in only one angle? That’s not right,” Harbhajan told India Today.

Meanwhile, the off-field controversy is causing problems aplenty for Pandya. Premier shaving brand Gillette has snapped its ties with the allrounder and the latter can face further setback in the coming days.

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