NEW DELHI: The Committee of Administrators Thursday lifted the suspensions of Hardik Pandya and Lokesh Rahul with immediate effect.
The suspensions were imposed for their objectionable comments on the celebrity television talk show “Koffee with Karan”.
“Following the CoA’s decision to lift the bans on Hardik Pandya and KL Rahul, the senior selection committee has decided to include Hardik Pandya in the squad for the series against New Zealand. KL Rahul will meanwhile join the India A squad that is playing 5 one-day games against England Lions in Thiruvananthapuram,” the Board of Control for Cricket in India said in a statement.
“Hardik Pandya will be sent to New Zealand to join the team at the earliest and KL Rahul will join the India A squad to play the last 3 one-day games against England Lions,” the statement further read.
The two players, who were sent home from the Australia tour, have already missed out on four One-Day Internationals, three against Australia and the opening match of the five-ODI series against New Zealand.
When contacted by IANS, CoA member Diana Edulji, who has been in an ongoing face-off the CoA chairman Vinod Rai (justifiably so it needs stressing), declined to offer any comments on the matter.
Pandya and Rahul have been included in the squad for the series against New Zealand and India A respectively.
India are 1-0 up in the five-match ODI series and the second rubber is on Saturday.
India A team will play 5 one-day games against England Lions.
