Indian cricketers Hardik Pandya and KL Rahul were on Wednesday, 9 January, issued show cause notices by the BCCI for their comments about women on talk show ‘Koffee With Karan’, that triggered massive outrage and could prompt the Board to bar players from such appearances.
Pandya, whose remarks on ‘Koffee with Karan’ were criticised as sexist, apologised for his remarks, saying he got "carried away by the nature" of the show. Rahul, on the other hand, has not yet responded to the criticism.
“We have sent show cause notices to Hardik Pandya and KL Rahul for their comments. They have been given 24 hours to give an explanation,” said Chairman of the Committee of Administrators that runs the BCCI, Vinod Rai.
Hardik Pandya Issues Apology
The 25-year-old all-rounder and Rahul appeared on the celebrity chat show, hosted by film-maker Karan Johar, together.
Taking to Twitter, Pandya posted, "After reflecting on my comments on Koffee with Karan, I would like to apologise to everyone concerned who I may have hurt in any way.
"Honestly, I got a bit carried away with the nature of the show. In no way did I mean to disrespect or hurt anyone's sentiments. Respect."
On the show, Pandya boasted about hooking up with multiple women and about also how open he has been about it with his parents.
When asked why he didn't ask women their names in clubs, Pandya responded by saying, "I like to watch and observe how they (women) move. I'm little from the black side so I need to see how they move." Criticism started coming Pandya's way soon after and it is learnt that he was reprimanded by the BCCI top brass.
According to a source, his comments were deemed "crass and cringeworthy" and might have a bearing on whether Indian cricketers appear on "such non-cricket shows" after this.
"It will be considered whether players should even be allowed to appear on such shows which have got nothing to do with cricket," a BCCI source told PTI.
Pandya is currently with the Indian team in Australia where it recently recorded a historic maiden Test series win.
Pandya had joined the team before the Boxing Day Test in Melbourne after recovering from a back injury which he had suffered during the Asia Cup in UAE last year.
He will be seen in action in the three-match ODI series against Australia which starts on 12 January in Sydney.
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