New Delhi:
Hardik Pandya's woes have increased following his comments on the Koffee With Karan episode. After being suspended by the BCCI, the prestigious Khar Gymkhana has revoked the honorary membership of the Mumbai all-rounder. Speaking to ANI, the joint secretary of the Gymkhana, Gaurav Kapadia, confirmed that Pandya is no longer a member. The BCCI has taken action, suspending Pandya and KL Rahul and calling them back from the series against Australia and New Zealand to face an inquiry. Although both players have tendered an ‘unconditional apology’, the troubles are not over for the players. Pandya and Rahul’s Koffee With Karan comments have resulted in plenty of flak from Indian cricket fans, BCCI and even Virat Kohli, the skipper who said the team does not agree with the comments made.
Pandya and Rahul tendered an "unconditional" apologies for their sexist comments during a TV chat show amid Committee of Administrators chief Vinod Rai saying that the BCCI should correct the two players, not end their careers. However, despite the apologies tendered by the duo, 10 BCCI units demanded a Special General Meeting to appoint an ombudsman for carrying out an inquiry. Rai's fellow CoA member Diana Edulji wants an inquiry done by CoA and the BCCI office-bearers. "Yes, Hardik and Rahul have submitted their reply to the fresh showcause notices that were served to them. They have tendered unconditional apology. The CoA chief has instructed the CEO to conduct an inquiry as per clause 41 (c) of the new BCCI constitution," a senior BCCI official told PTI.
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Pandya’s comments on the talk show Koffee With Karan, hosted by Karan Johar, have drawn the ire from social media users, terming it ‘misogynistic’ and ‘racist’. WTrouble has mounted for Pandya as the fall-out from his comments continues. Along with an uncertain playing future, Pandya’s brand has taken a massive hit due to the controversy. According to a Times of India report, Pandya has been dropped as one of the celebrity ambassadors for men’s shaving razor Gillette Mach3 Start following his ‘outrageous’ comments.
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Following the outrage, Hotstar have removed the episode from the web while Pandya's father Himanshu has said that the comments should not be taken seriously as his son was indulging in chatter in a light-hearted manner.
The situation came into light with this one conversation when Johar was asking questions about not asking women’s name in a night club and what do men talk about. To this, Pandya replied, “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." Pandya also boasted about how he casually discussed his sex life with his parents. “When I lost my virginity, I came home and said, 'Main karke aya hai aaj (I had sex today)'. At a party my parents asked me 'acha tera wala (women) kaun sa hai [who is your interest here?] so I said yeh, yeh, yeh (pointing out women)' and they were like 'waah proud of you beta',” Pandya said during the show.
