Sexism scandal hits India pair
CRICKET: Inappropriate comments have cast a shadow over India’s Test celebrations and one-day international preparations, with Virat Kohli making his displeasure clear as Hardik Pandya and K.L. Rahul face suspension amid a sexism scandal.
Kohli is yet to hear from India’s board whether gun all-rounder Pandya, usually an automatic selection in India’s one-day team, is free to play in today’s SCG series-opener.
Pandya and Rahul’s recent appearance on an Indian talk show, during which the former detailed how he had bragged to his parents about losing his virginity, created a storm in their homeland.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India is under mounting pressure to take action, having issued both players with show-cause notices.
Kohli distanced himself and his team from the views of Pandya and Rahul, who was unlikely to play today regardless, that they had expressed about women. “Any inappropriate comments that are made in that scenario are something that we definitely don’t support,” Kohli told reporters yesterday.
“The two concerned players felt what has gone wrong and they have understood the magnitude.
“These are purely individual opinions ... we definitely, as the Indian cricket team, do not support views like that.”
Debate is raging at the conservative BCCI about the punishment.
A two-match ban appears most likely, although BCCI treasurer Anirudh Chaudhry has used the example of Steve Smith and David Warner in flagging the prospect of tougher penalties.