India Off-spinner Harbhajan Singh has been banned from three Test matches for making racially offensive remarks in Sydney against Australian all-rounder Andrew Symonds, 32, the only non-White player in the Australian team. Harbhajan was charged under rule 3.3 of the ICC’s Code of Conduct that deals with using language or gestures that insults a person on the basis of race, religion, color, descent or national or ethnic origin. The charge was laid by match umpires Mark Benson and Steve Bucknor after the third day’s play following a complaint from Australia captain Ricky Ponting. Match Referee Mike Procter upheld the Australian charge. The spinner, however, vehemently denied the allegation.

Harbhajan was grilled by Proctor in a hearing that stretched over six and a half hours. He was supported by skipper Anil Kumble, Sachin Tendulkar, manager Chetan Chauhan and media manager M V Sridhar during the deliberations. Procter also heard Symonds, who was backed by Australian captain Ricky Ponting, Adam Gilchrist, Matthew Hayden, Michael Clarke along with team manager Steve Bernard.

The Indian team, along with BCCI has decided to appeal to the Commissioner of Appeals to allow Harbhajan to continue playing. BCCI’s Chief Administrative Manager Ratnakar Shetty, labeling the run-in as ‘unfortunate’, pointed out that the Aussies have no concrete proof to back their allegation against Harbhajan. India’s case strengthened with both the on-field umpires Steve Bucknor and Mark Benson going on record saying that they had not heard anything offensive being said. India has retaliated by by lodging their own complaint against Australia’s Brad Hogg for allegedly making an abusive comment to one of their players, according to reports.
Harbhajan, 27, has played for India since 1998 and has taken a combined total of almost 450 international wickets in all forms of the game. He will surely be missed the third Test, which begins in Perth on 16 January.

Source: BBC Sports

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