The BCCI Ombudsman on Saturday directed Indian cricketers KL Rahul and Hardik Pandya to pay Rs 1 lakh each to families of 10 constables in the para-military forces who have lost their lives in the line of duty. They have also been ordered to pay another Rs 10 lakh each to the fund created by Cricket Association for the blind for promotion of the game for the blind within four weeks.
The ombudsman made it clear that if the amounts were not deposited by the duo within the stipulated time, the BCCI may deduct them from the match fees payable to them.
The order passed on them on 19 April said that the two owed their fame to ‘the game of cricket’ and, therefore, have a ‘greater responsibility to ensure that their conduct is befitting the status.’
It noted, “He has acquired and does not affect the reputation of the sport, he is associated with. I have no hesitation in observing that the remarks made by the Player, even by his own admissions, did offend sensitivities, which ought to have been avoided. Hence, he must make amends.
Taking into consideration all these aspects, in particular the fact that the Player has tendered an apology for the incident without seeking to justify his action; has acknowledged his duty to the society and expressed his willingness to hold himself to the higher standards expected of him and has missed out five ODIs in the interest of justice and fair play, in order to purge his discretion, it would suffice, if the Player is directed to:
(i) pay a sum of 100000 /- to each of the most deserving widows of ten Constables in paramilitary forces who have lost their lives while on duty, through the medium
of “Bharat Ke Veer App”; and
(ii) deposit a sum of £10,00,000/- in the fund created by the Cricket Association for the blind, for the promotion of the Game of Cricket for the blind.”
While appearing on Koffee With Karan on 6 January, Pandya had narrated an incident when he bragged to his parents about losing his virginity. He had said, “Aaj mai kar ke aaya (Today, I’ve done that).” This wasn’t the only cringe-worthy comment that Pandya made about his sexual encounters on the show.
He told Karan Johar, “At a party, my parents asked me, ‘Which women are yours? I said, ‘This, this, and this one’,” Talking about his parents’ reaction, Pandya had said, “And they were like, ‘Wah, proud of you beta‘.”
On the show, Pandya had also boasted about getting intimate with multiple women. In response to a question on why he doesn’t ask for the names of women at nightclubs since he has trouble remembering them, he had said, “I like to watch and observe how they (women) move. I’m little from the back side so I need to see how they move.”