Hardik Pandya’s and KL Rahul’s appearance on Karan Johar’s chat show Koffee With Karan has opened a Pandora’s Box for the cricketers. Their comments on the show have been extremely crass, sexist and misogynistic and have escalated after Committee of Administrators (CoA) chief Vinod Rai recommended a two-ODI ban on both the players. The BCCI had previously sent show cause notices to the two cricketers for the remarks and Pandya who was the more vocal of the two has already apologized for his comments.

However, CoA chief Vinod Rai, in an email to BCCI CEO Rahul Johri wrote, “I have seen the remarks made by these two players on the show in print today. Very crass. No apology can cover it. I had asked Diana (CoA member Diana Edulji) to suggest penalty because I had not seen the clip. I think we need to give both of them a two-match suspension. If Diana agrees, Rahul please draft an appropriate instruction and issue today as their explanations have come in. Separately, please prepare an advisory to all BCCI contracted players and support staff." He also told PTI, “I am not convinced with Hardik's explanation and I have recommended a two-match ban for both players. However, the final decision will be taken once Diana gives her go ahead.”

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[caption id="attachment_193478" align="aligncenter" width="647"] Hardik Pandya, Karan Johar and KL Rahul[/caption]

A leading sports portal quoted Diana Edulji who said, “There is no delay as such. Big steps will be taken through a proper process and protocol as per BCCI's rules and regulations. This is my response to the story." She has referred the matter to the BCCI’s legal cell. On the other hand, BCCI treasurer Anirudh Chaudhary has warned the cricketers that their comments can make them susceptible to approached from bookies. He feels that the cricketers can be targeted by organized syndicates indulging in match-fixing through honey trap route.

A leading news portal reported the internal communication that Chaudhary sent to Edulji. He wrote, “It must be noted that the comments such as the ones that have been made would definitely have painted a large, red target on the back of the players for potential recruiters for the organized syndicates who attempt to indulge in match-fixing across the globe. The very first caution that the ICC Anti-Corruption officers give in a briefing to the players is to beware of situations of honey traps and the comments made on the show make it seem that the players may just be ripe for the plucking."

Looks like, the duo’s problems have just started and will not die down so soon.