BCCI acting president CK Khanna has called for the suspension of Hardik Pandya and KL Rahul to be revoked until the conclusion of the inquiry by a Supreme Court-appointed ombudsman.

The Indian duo were sent back home from India’s tour of Australia after the airing of an episode on a TV chat show called ‘Koffee with Karan’, in which they made comments that were deemed sexist and sparked outrage.

The inquiry was delayed after the Supreme Court adjourned a hearing on Justice Lodha committee’s recommendations for the BCCI. The appointment of the ombudsman hinged on the results of the hearing, but its adjournment has left Pandya and Rahul in limbo.

'People make mistakes, let’s not go too far here'

Sourav Ganguly backs Pandya and Rahul, says it's time to move on.

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— Wisden (@WisdenCricket) January 18, 2019

Arguing that the delay could cast uncertainty over the future of the two cricketers, Khanna wrote to the BCCI’s Committee of Administrators suggesting that they be allowed to play till the inquiry takes place.

“I suggest that pending inquiry, we reinstate both the cricketers in the Indian squad immediately and allow them to join the team in New Zealand at the earliest,” Khanna wrote in an e-mail accessed by the Press Trust of India.

“They made a mistake, and they have already been suspended and called back from the series against Australia. They have also submitted an unconditional apology. We must not keep their careers in a limbo.”