SYDNEY, Jan 13, 2019 (BSS/AFP) – India Sunday called up all-rounder Vijay
Shankar and batsman Shubman Gill for their Australia and New Zealand tours
after KL Rahul and Hardik Pandya were ordered home in disgrace over comments
made about women.
Rahul and Pandya were axed ahead of India’s opening one-day international
against Australia in Sydney on Saturday, which the tourists lost, pending an
investigation into the comments made on a TV celebrity show.
“Vijay Shankar will join the team before the start of the 2nd ODI in
Adelaide,” the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) said, referring
to Tuesday’s match.
“He will be a part of the squad for the ODI series in Australia and the
tour to New Zealand. Shubman Gill has been picked for the ODI and Twenty20
series in New Zealand.”
Pandya had bragged about his success with women and made other sexual
remarks during an Indian celebrity chat show broadcast last week just as
India were celebrating their historic first Test series win in Australia.
Rahul was also on the programme and watched his teammate’s antics, which
sparked outrage on social media and condemnation from skipper Virat Kohli who
made clear the comments did not reflect the culture within the squad.
Both players, who have apologised, have been suspended “from playing any
form of cricket” pending an enquiry for misconduct and indiscipline. With
Pandya and Rahul missing, India crashed to a 34-run defeat in Sydney on
Saturday despite a explosive century from Rohit Sharma.
The next game in the three-match series is a day-night contest in Adelaide
on Tuesday.