Former India cricketer and current head coach of the Baroda women’s team, Atul Bedade, has been suspended by the Baroda Cricket Association (BCA) for the next ‘further enquiry’ due to the sexual harassment and public shaming. The association, however, took the decision after some of the senior players and their family members complained against him for his alleged misbehaviour during the Senior One-day tournament in Una, Himachal Pradesh earlier this year.

“One of the senior team players had a nervous breakdown during the tournament and she had to be flown back home. Last week, we heard another parent complaining against (the head coach) for public shaming,” BCA secretary Ajit Lele told Sportstar.

Based on the complaint made by the players and family, the BCA started an internal inquiry which included four-members — the senior HR manager of the BCA (Priyanka Verma), CEO (Shishir Hattangadi) and two secretaries (Lele and Parag Patel) and he was suspended at that time only.

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“We will form a neutral committee, which will look into the matter and based on its findings, a final decision will be taken,” Lele said.

“personal comments on physicality to personal menstruation; comments that discourage the morals of the team members; angry outbursts unbecoming of a women’s team coach and using unparliamentary language that is not accepted of a person-in-charge; behaviour oblivious of gender sensitivity,” he said.

When contacted, Atul Bedade said: “I am not in a position to comment on the matter. I have just received the suspension letter this evening and it’s suprising.”

Atul Bedade has played 13 ODIs and was earlier with the senior men’s team of Baroda as well. He took charge of the women’s side last year after Sanath Kumar was appointed as the head coach of the men’s team. Coronavirus has affected not only everyone’s lives but also sporting events across the globe which included the upcoming edition of the Indian Premier League as well.