NEW DELHI – India’s cricket board lifted suspensions on Hardik Pandya and Lokesh Rahul on Thursday, imposed after comments about women during a talk show saw the players ordered home from a tour of Australia.
Pandya boasted on the TV celebrity show earlier this month about his success with multiple women as Rahul sat next to him, prompting uproar on social media.
“You are just watching and observing how they move as I said I am a little from the black side (influenced by West Indies culture), so I have to see how they (women) move first,” Pandya had said.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) subsequently suspended the all-rounder and batsman, and ordered them to return home from the team’s tour of Australia.
On Thursday, the board said that its committee of administrators “is of the view that the interim suspension orders... should be presently lifted with immediate effect”.
The players apologised for their conduct following the uproar, with Pandya tweeting: “Honestly, I got a bit carried away with the nature of the show. In no way did I mean to disrespect or hurt anyone’s sentiments. Respect.”