Ban removed: Hardik Pandya will now join Indian squad in New Zealand

Another Indian cricketer KL Rahul, who was facing same suspension, will  join the India A squad that is playing 5 one-day games against England Lions in Thiruvananthapuram. The suspension imposed on him was also lifted by the board.

India is currently playing a limited overs series in New Zealand.

Virat Kohli and his cricket team are 1-0 up in the series.

"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 Indian cricket board 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," it said.

The controversy:

The two cricketers have been under fire for their comments on the TV talk show Koffee with Karan, that many saw as being disrespectful towards women,

The BCCI Committee of Administrators had earlier suspended the Pandya and Rahul following a public backlash after the show was aired.

In a statement, the BCCI had stated: "In terms of Rule 41(6) of the BCCI Constitution, the players 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."

What did Pandya, Rahul say?

When host Karan Johar asked Pandya why he doesn't ask for women's names at night clubs, the all-rounder said: "It is so much to talk man, so how can I remember the name also sometimes. It's so loud."

When the host insisted on what does the cricketer talks about, Pandya said: "Its not talking..Its watching and just observing how they move.....I am little from black side so I have to see how they move first...."

Both Pandya and Rahul talked about their sex lives. Rahul shared an experience of how he was caught with a condom by his mother.

Explaining how he is frank with his family, Pandya said: "My family I have been like I am open about everything. When I lost my virginity, I told my parents that aj kar ke aaya (I did it today)." (sic)

"There was a party when my parents were sitting and they were asking tera wala kaun kaun hai (which girls are yours). I actually sat with them and said yeh yeh and yeh (this, this and this girl)...and my parents said wah, wah proud of you beta (son)," Pandya added.

After hearing Pandya, Karan said the cricketer's family was the "wildest".