MUMBAI: The brand blowback following the suspension of Indian cricketers Hardik Pandya and KL Rahul from the ongoing Australia tour due to their crass comments on the celebrity TV chat Show Koffee with Karan has been swift and more could well follow.
Not suprisingly, the first off the blocks has been FMCG major P&G’s shaving razor brand Gillette, which has dropped Pandya as the face of its best selling Gillette Mach3. It was only in October 2018 that the new kid on the cricketing block joined an illustrious grouping that includes Indian cricketing icon Rahul Dravid, and two of the biggest names in global sport – Roger Federer and Tiger Woods – to endorse the Gillette Mach3.
“Hardik Pandya’s recent comments do not reflect the values of Gillette. We have suspended our association with Hardik until we decide on further course of action,” a company spokesperson was quoted as saying by The Times of India.
Other brands are expected to follow suit, with the reactions to the duo’s TV appearance being overwhelmingly in the negative.
Apart from TV advertisements, Pandya has associations with brands such as Oppo, Gulf Oil, Sin Denim, DFY Sport and EUME on his social media as well, while Rahul endorses Curefit, Royal Stag, Puma and has been seen in a TVC for the Reserve Bank of India as well.
That’s off-field. On-field, Pandya and Rahul are as good as certain to miss the remainder of the Australia tour (3 ODIs and 3 T20s), with a high likelihood that the suspension could carry over to the New Zealand series that follows (5 ODIs and 3 T20s).
A six-member committee will now probe the matter and will take a decision on the punishment to be imposed on the duo.
A statement on the BCCI’s official website reads: “The CoA [Committee of Administrators], in accordance with the BCCI, has decided to suspend Hardik Pandya and KL Rahul from playing any form of cricket after their comments on a TV show.
“The duo will now return to India and an inquiry and proceedings will be made against them for misconduct and indiscipline that have been initiated under rule 41 of the BCCI constitution.
“The duo is now called upon to provide an explanation as to why they should not be sanctioned for misconduct and indiscipline under rule 41 of the BCCI constitution within a period of seven days.”
While suspending the two cricketers, the BCCI had served the following notice on the duo: “You are aware that enquiry and proceedings against you for misconduct and indiscipline have been initiated under Rule 41 of the BCCI Constitution and the same are presently pending.
“In terms of Rule 41(6) of the BCCI Constitution, you are hereby suspended with immediate effect from participating in any manner whatsoever in any match or function or event or activity that is authorized, organized, sanctioned, recognized or supported in any way by the BCCI, the ICC or any State Association, until final adjudication of the matter.”
