The BCCI has lifted the suspension on Hardik Pandya and KL Rahul, pending appointment of an authority to investigate the charges against them.
The duo were immediately available for selection. Pandya, thus, joined the India ODI squad in New Zealand ahead of the second match on Saturday, January 26, while KL Rahul was included in the India A squad playing England Lions in a 50-over series.
The duo had been suspended on January 11 following their controversial comments on an Indian talk show. However, since then, there has been no agreement between the two members of the Committee of Administrators in charge of the BCCI on how they should proceed.
'People make mistakes, let’s not go too far here'
Sourav Ganguly backs Pandya and Rahul, says it's time to move on.
Full story 👇https://t.co/L3KyRplBwk
— Wisden (@WisdenCricket) January 18, 2019
While Vinod Rai called for a speedy resolution, insisting that the BCCI was “not in the business of ending careers“, Edulji pushed for caution, so it doesn’t look like a “cover-up job”. Acting president CK Khanna too had written to them calling for the suspension to be revoked until the conclusion of the enquiry.
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Late on Thursday, on the advice of the amicus curiae, the CoA lifted the suspension order, “pending appointment and adjudication of the allegations by the BCCI ombudsman”. The ombudsman is yet to be appointed, with the post remaining vacant since late 2016. It has been left up to the Supreme Court to make the appointment, but the decision was delayed after the most recent hearing was adjourned to February.