CoA member Diana Edulji wrongly compares Hardik- Rahul row with Croatia’s FIFA WC 2018 incident

Croatia had to send back one of their players for not following instructions during FIFA WC 2018.

Hardik Pandya and KL Rahul's careers have been put on hold due to infighting between CoA membersThe CoA members infighting has been causing a lot of grief for the suspended cricketing duo of Hardik Pandya and KL Rahul, as the date for their inquiry of the case has not been set.

Both Rahul and Pandya have been suspended pending inquiry for their remarks against women on a TV show, which had triggered a controversy. The duo was asked to come back from the tour of Australia and was replaced from the upcoming tour of New Zealand.

Both Hardik Pandya and KL Rahul have tendered unconditional apologies to the board and CoA. The BCCI and CoA have exchanged emails trying to determine the quantum of punishment for the duo. In those emails, past examples have been discussed of players being suspended or sent back from tours, with Edulji citing the example of former India captain Lala Amarnath being sent back from the tour to England in 1936.

She also claimed that Croatia sent back one of their players from the 2018 FIFA World Cup and went onto win the World Cup.

She wrote, “There has been a precedent when Lala Amarnath was sent back from UK. Such strict steps will ensure that no one henceforth makes such loose talk which are detrimental to the image of Cricketers, Cricket and BCCI at large. For your knowledge, in the recently concluded football World Cup a Croatian player was sent back after their first game on disciplinary grounds, Croatia went on to win the World Cup.”

However, this was an erroneous claim, as the FIFA World Cup 2018 was won by France and not Croatia, as they were beaten 4-2 in the final.

Croatia’s Nikola Kalinic was sent back for disciplinary issues from FIFA WC 2018What actually happened with Croatia was Croatia’s Nikola Kalinic was sent back for disciplinary issues, namely failing to come on as a substitute in Croatia’s opening match against Nigeria. As far as the gravity of crimes goes, it is far more serious to refuse to play for your team when required than to say ‘offensive’ things on a chat show.

As a result, Croatia went in with one striker in Mario Mandzukic, who scored three goals including one in the finals.

The KL-Pandya matter has now reached the Supreme Court, as the CoA have said to the court that an ombudsman is appointed for the Indian cricket board to decide the quantum of punishment for suspended cricketers.

Hardik and KL have rendered unconditional apologyThe court will hear the matter next week after senior advocate P S Narasimha, the new amicus curiae take up the position.

CoA advocate Parag Tripathi said, “They (Rahul and Pandya) are young players and a decision needs to be taken on their fate immediately. They made some insensitive remarks on a roasting show. The two members of CoA believes that it will be for the ombudsman to take a decision on the quantum of punishment.

 (inputs from DNA)

 
 

By Jatin Sharma - 18 Jan, 2019

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