Hardik Pandya and batsman KL Rahul to pay a fine of Rs 20 lakh each for their sexist remarks on TV chat show Koffee with Karan earlier this year.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India's (BCCI) newly-appointed Ombudsman, Justice (retd) DK Jain, has pronounced his first verdict. And, it has come as a big relief for Team India before the upcoming ICC World Cup in England.
In a report published on the BCCI website, Justice Jain has directed India all-rounder Hardik Pandya and batsman KL Rahul to pay a fine of Rs 20 lakh each for their sexist remarks on TV chat show Koffee with Karan earlier this year.
The duo has been asked to donate Rs 1 lakh each to “the most deserving widows of 10 constables in para-military forces who have lost their lives while on duty”, while also giving Rs 10 lakh each in the fund created for the promotion Cricket Association for the blind.
The Ombudsman's decision has surprised many within the BCCI as, according to them, the two hardly talked about cricket and the entire episode was more about Pandya "boasting about his way with women”.
Pandya, in particular, was slammed on social media for his sexist remarks on the show, which has been removed from all the platforms after the BCCI put pressure on the broadcaster.
“What kind of a precedent have we set for our future generation?” a senior BCCI office-bearer said. “It's a joke that a player who earns Rs 3 crore as just annual contract (2018-19 Grade B contract for both) from the Board has been fined a mere Rs 20 lakh. It's not even a wrap on their knuckles,” added the official.
Both the players were sent back home from a series in Australia after the show aired in January.
In his remarks, the Ombudsman noted that “since the players had already apologised for their conduct on the?show and also missed out on their earnings after being sent home from Australia”, the fine would suffice.
However, Justice Jain also wrote that “cricketers are role models for the youth in this country where the sport itself is treated like a religion and need to conduct themselves in the manner befitting of that stature”.
The verdict has come as a big relief for skipper Virat Kohli and the Indian team management keeping in mind their role in the build up to the World Cup next month.
Pandya is the lone all-rounder in the team while Rahul's availability may also be crucial keeping in mind the vulnerability of the opening pair of Shikhar Dhawan and Rohit Sharma in the swinging English conditions.
In the ongoing edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL), both these players have been in good form for their respective franchises and the selection committee was of the opinion that the duo will carry the momentum into the World Cup as well.
What Ombudsman Said
- The Ombudsman noted that “since the players had already apologised for their conduct on the show and also missed out on their earnings after being sent home from Australia”, the fine would suffice.
- However, Justice Jain also wrote that “cricketers are role models for the youth in this country where the sport itself is treated like a religion and need to conduct themselves in the manner befitting of that stature”.
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 "Hardik Pandya, KL Rahul")
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