(Image source from: www.theweek.in)
Indian cricket team players Hardik Pandya and K.L. Rahul were on Wednesday issued show cause notices by the Board of Control for Cricket in India for their comments on women on Koffee with Karan that triggered massive outrage and might induce the Board to bar players from such appearances.
Pandya, whose remarks on the show were criticized as sexist, apologized for his remarks, saying he got "carried away by the nature" of the show.
"We have sent show cause notices to Hardik Pandya and K.L. Rahul for their comments. They have been given 24 hours to give an explanation," Chairman of the Committee of Administrators that runs the BCCI, Vinod Rai, said.
Pandya and Rahul appeared on the celebrity chat show, hosted by filmmaker Karan Johar, together.
Taking to Twitter, Pandya posted, "After reflecting on my comments on Koffee with Karan, I would like to apologize 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."
— hardik pandya (@hardikpandya7) January 9, 2019
On the show, Pandya boasted about hooking up with multiple women and also how open he has been about it with his parents.
When asked why he didn't ask women their name in a club, 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."
Soon after his comments, the criticism started coming his way and it is learned that he was ticked off by the BCCI top brass.
According to a source, his comments were deemed "crass and cringe-worthy" 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 said.
Currently, Pandya is with the Indian team in Australia where it recently recorded a historic maiden Test series win.
Pandya had joined the team ahead of the Boxing Day Test in Melbourne after getting well from a back injury which he had suffered during the Asia Cup in the United Arab Emirates earlier this year.
He will be seen in action in the three-match One Day International (ODI) series against Australia which starts on January 12 in Sydney.
-Sowmya Sangam
