Mumbai: World Cup-winning India cricketer Harbhajan Singh has come down on KL Rahul and Hardik Pandya who have been suspended by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) over their controversial comments during an appearance on a popular television show, Koffee With Karan.
Rahul and Pandya have been facing a lot of ire for their borderline racist and sexist comments. From references to getting distracted by cheerleaders to claiming they had slept with women in their teammates dressing rooms, both the cricketers were seemingly carried away by the nature of the show, which is known for getting celebrities to open up on their personal lives.
The latter had boasted about his dates and hoookups with multiple women and even shed light on how his parents were “cool” with him seemingly objectifying the opposite gender.
Harbhajan said Hardik and Rahul had made cringe-worthy comments and that they had made a fool out of themselves by trying to act cool on the show.
“It [the suspension] was bound to happen. The BCCI has taken the right decision. That’s the way forward too. In this case, there was a lot of talk about sexism, racism and other ill-natured comments. You don’t tell these kinds of things on national television. We don’t even discuss these things with our friends,” Harbhajan told a leading English news channel on Friday.
“They have openly said.. ‘I have done this, I have done that’. It was shocking to me. Many of my seniors, my friends have been talking about it and it has been shocking to all of them.
“He [Hardik] tried to look cool on TV by putting other players also on the same level. People might think that Harbhajan Singh is one of them, Anil Kumble is also one of them and Sachin Tendulkar is also one of them. We are not like them.
“This is wrong. They need to understand they play cricket and people treat them as gods. They can’t go out and say such things while pretending to be cool. You’re making fool out of yourself. This definitely was going to happen.”
Hardik and Rahul were sent show-cause notices in which they were informed about their suspensions. Either an internal committee of the BCCI or an ad hoc ombudsman will conduct the inquiry within 15 days, according to the Press Trust of India.
Harbhajan though believes it’s not about the quantum of the punishment but that the two cricketers have ruined their reputations with the comments they made on the show. He also added that former cricketers have been hurt by the way the two cricketers portrayed the dressing room atmosphere.
“Look, the punishment could be a two-match or three-match ban. That will not change anything. Their reputation was at stake, they have lost the trust of their teammates. If he comes and stands next to you at a party, would you like to stand next to him? I will not travel with these two guys in the same bus because if my daughter, if my wife is travelling in the team bus.. how would they feel? You are looking at women in only one angle? That’s not right.
“It’s actually hurting us. He is bringing everyone’s reputation on the stake, including Sachin Tendulkar’s and all that of these great players who have played for the country for more than 20 years.
“He’s talking about using other teammates’ room. ‘C’mon man what are you talking about? You have been in the team for only one year. What do you know about the team?’
“We never created this kind of culture…party till 5 and come to play the next day. ‘You’re here to play cricket not to do this kind of stuff. When you have free time, you can enjoy, do what you want to do.’
Harbhajan also raised pertinent questions about the role of BCCI’s Anti-Corruption Unit [ACU] when it comes to monitoring players’ activities during tours.
“Obviously, the ACU needs to see, which player is going where. The ACU should report to the BCCI. Where was the ACU when KL [Rahul] was out till 5 in the morning,” Harbhajan added.
“The rules now are so strict. No one can come to your rooms without prior permission? Where was the ACU?”
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