BCCI Treasurer Anirudh Chaudhry Questions Who Granted Hardik Pandya and KL Rahul Permission to Appear on the Talk Show

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) treasurer Anirudh Chaudhry has slammed the behaviour of Indian National Cricket Team players Hardik Pandya and KL Rahul during their recent appearance on a talk show.

Meanwhile, in a letter addressed to the Supreme Court-appointed Committee of Administrators, the treasurer has said that the apology from Pandya is insincere and also applauded CoA member Diana Edulji for asking for a legal suggestion before deciding on handing the duo the necessary punishment. He also added that along with CEO Rahul Johri, the entire team should go through a sensitization process.

In addition to, Anirudh Chaudhry also talks about how Cricket Australia handled the matter of Steven Smith and David Warner for bringing the game and the board into disrepute. He wants an example to be set so that Indian cricketers do not act irresponsibly in the future.

“I have not been asked to opine but this is a subject that I feel very strongly about and therefore I wish to express my views on the subject. I appreciate the step by Diana Edulji to seek the views of the legal team as it is absolutely essential that the correct procedure is followed in dealing with this situation since a faulty procedure would mean risking that the decision is vitiated ab-initio as was the case in the matter pertaining to the Madhavan Committee in the match-fixing matter in 2000 and in the matter pertaining to the 2013 IPL issue where the findings of a committee consisting of two former High Court judges were held to be void and which culminated into the proceedings that led to the appointment of the Justice Mudgal Committee and subsequently the Justice Lodha Committee,” he wrote.

While he revealed that he hadn’t seen the show cause notice, he was certain that the game and Indian cricket had been brought into disrepute with their behaviour in the chat show Koffee With Karan.

“Though I have not seen the show cause notice, I presume it mentions the provisions under which the same has been sent. The players who appeared on the show have definitely brought the game and Indian cricket and cricketers into disrepute by their words and admitted conduct. The consequences for bringing the game of cricket into disrepute are definitely something which will have to be considered,” he added.

Moreover, Anirudh Chaudhry called for an immediate suspension of both Hardik Pandya and KL Rahul. He also added they will only return once they go through a proper inquiry procedure.

“As far as the quantum of the punishment is concerned if the players are found guilty as per the procedures laid down in the Rules and Regulations, keeping in view the above factors and discussions, a two-match suspension seems to be merely a stop-gap arrangement especially considering that the CoA had banned Smith and Warner for a season. The players must be immediately suspended pending a proper inquiry and must be allowed to join the team (if selected) only once they have gone through a proper sensitization in addition to serving a ban if imposed upon them,” he concluded.