Committee of Administrators member Diana Edulji on Friday recommended “suspension till further action” for India players Hardik Pandya and KL Rahul after the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) legal team refused to declare their sexist comments on women a violation of the code of conduct. Edulji had initially suggested a two-match suspension for the duo but referred the matter to the legal cell after CoA chief Vinod Rai agreed with her and recommended the same.
“It is imperative that players be put under suspension till further course of action is decided for this misconduct as was done in case of (BCCI) CEO (Rahul Johri) when he was sent on leave on sexual harassment matter,” read Edulji’s response to the legal opinion.
“Based on legal opinion and final procedure is laid down to address this issue, will recommend that a communication is sent to concerned players and team immediately,” Edulji wrote in response to recommendations from the Board’s legal firm Cyril Amarchand Mangaldas.
The firm said the behaviour in question was neither a criticism of any match or against a player or support staff or match official.
The copy of the legal opinion states: “We feel that present matter doesn”t fall under the ambit of Code of Conduct and procedure of Code of Conduct can”t be invoked in present circumstances.”
