Hardik Pandya and KL Rahul were suspended from the national team after their controversial appearance on Karan Johar’s chat show Koffee With Karan. (Source: Twitter) Hardik Pandya and KL Rahul were suspended from the national team after their controversial appearance on Karan Johar’s chat show Koffee With Karan. (Source: Twitter)

The Supreme Court appointed Committee of Administrators (CoA), to oversee BCCI, on Thursday lifted the suspension on Hardik Pandya and KL Rahul. The duo were suspended from the Indian team for their inappropriate remarks on women on Karan Johar’s chat show ‘Koffee With Karan’.

Later in the day, Pandya was officially drawn into the New Zealand series with KL Rahul to be part of India A side which is facing England Lions.

Having discussed the matter with new amicus curiae P S Narsimha, CoA decided to lift the suspension. However, the inquiry is still pending for which an ombudsman is to be appointed by the Supreme Court. The apex court has listed the matter tentatively for February 5.

BCCI in its statement said, “The above matter and decision has been taken with the concurrence of the Learned Amicus Curiae, Mr. P.S. Narasimha. In view of the above, the suspension orders dated 11.01.2019 is immediately lifted pending appointment and adjudication of the allegations by the BCCI Ombudsman.”

The CoA stated that the decision to suspend the two players was taken under Rule 46 of the approved BCCI Constitution which covers players’ conduct that can bring the Board into disrepute.

Last week, acting BCCI president CK Khanna had urged the CoA to lift the suspension on Pandya and KL Rahul. There was further talk of behavioural counselling for players at all levels. “The Indian senior team as well as the Emerging, A teams and U-19s will have behavioural counselling session at the National Cricket Academy (NCA).”

“The course will deal with every aspect of a professional sportsperson’s life. There will also be sessions on gender sensitivity,” a senior BCCI official told news agency PTI on conditions of anonymity.

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