Former Indian National Cricket Team cricketer Ajit Agarkar urges India should get promising all-rounder Hardik Pandya in the team roster before the upcoming 2019 World Cup scheduled in the United Kingdom (UK). Pandya, who draw flak across the cricketing world, has been recently suspended for his misogynist comments alongside his teammate KL Rahul.
“Hardik Pandya needs to get back quickly. I don’t know what the… or whoever is going to make the decision has got to make the decision quickly enough,” Agarkar told ESPNcricinfo’s Match Day Show hosted by Nikhil Naz.
Earlier, Hardik alongside KL Rahul was suspended by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI).
The duo made the appearance in the recent talk show; Koffee with Karan on the Star World. Veteran Karan Johar hosts the popular show.
Pandya didn’t commit a crime: Agarkar
The 41-year-old Mumbai-based Agarkar reiterated the Baroda-based Pandya hadn’t committed any sin while adding the cricketer has already accepted the folly.
“I mean he has not committed a crime. He has admitted his mistakes of making some crass statements. [And] People need to move on,” Agarkar added on.
Agarkar himself represented India in 191 ODIs, 26 Tests and four Twenty20 Internationals (ODIs). He suggested the concerned authorities should hand the quantum of punishment. Agarkar has made it clear that the inclusion of Pandya lends Team India a balance.
“And at least, hand him his punishment. He has already missed three games, and he is going to miss five more, and he hasn’t had a lot of cricket over the last two-and-a-half months. He gives you balance,” Agarkar remarked.
Missing the World Cup would be a disaster: Agarkar
Agar asserted India wouldn’t miss Rahul as much as they would miss Pandya in the quadrennial event which is scheduled in England, this year. Moreover, the competition will kick off on May 30.
“KL Rahul perhaps the Indian team is not going to miss as much as they would miss Hardik Pandya. He just lends you that balance. So, hopefully, that’s sorted,” Agarkar further added.
Agarkar stated it would be eventually devastating for the player like Pandya—to miss out on such a coveted event of the ODI set-up. Adding the decision regarding the ‘punishment’ should have been made, as of now.
“That will be disastrous not just for the Indian team, but for the player personally… I mean it is ridiculous. By now, the decision should have been made of what his punishment was or what sanctions he gets or how long he is suspended,” he maintained.
Agarkar also feels Pandya should get a chance to feature in the limited-overs cricket ahead of the World Cup. He added the Indian Premier League (IPL) is also taking place in between.
Pandya should play white-ball cricket soon: Agarkar
Also, Agarkar has preferred Pandya over Tamil Nadu-based allrounder Vijay Shankar. Recently, Shankar replaced Pandya for the limited-over series.
“And he gets to play the series at least when Australia comes to India because he needs to play some cricket. I know there is IPL after that, but he needs to play some international cricket (white-ball cricket),” Agarkar signed off.
Interestingly, Pandya’s recently activity came to the fore when he commented on the recently uploaded Instagram post from his teammate Kedar Jadhav.