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Cricket crisis averted after Harbhajan cleared

Reuters

Posted online: Tuesday , January 29, 2008 at 1726 hrs IST

Sydney, January 29:: India's troubled tour of Australia will proceed as planned after the International Cricket Council (ICC) cleared spinner Harbhajan Singh of racial abuse at an appeal on Tuesday.

There were fears the tour might be cancelled after Indian officials demanded the ICC to overturn its decision to suspend Harbhajan for three tests for allegedly calling Australian all-rounder Andrew Symonds 'a monkey' during the second test.

However, the crisis was averted on Tuesday when independent New Zealand high court judge John Hansen dismissed the charge after a 5-1/2 hour hearing at Adelaide's Federal Court.

Hansen ruled that there was not enough evidence to convict Harbhajan of racial abuse but charged him with the lesser offence of using abusive language.

Harbhajan pleaded guilty and was fined half his match fee but is clear to play in the triangular one-day series with Australia and Sri Lanka.

"We are very happy with the proceedings, we are very satisfied," Indian board secretary Niranjan Shah told Reuters in New Delhi.

"Now the team must concentrate on the game."

Cricket Australia spokesman Peter Young said the Australians were pleased with the outcome and happy to put the incident behind them.

"All parties will move on with the cricket," Young said. "The game is the important thing."

ICC communications officer Sami-ul-Hasan had earlier read a brief statement to reporters in Adelaide confirming the decision and saying Hansen would deliver his full verdict on Wednesday.

"Justice Hansen said he was convinced that on all evidence submitted before him the charge of level 3.3 was not proven but that Harbhajan Singh should be charged with a level 2.8 offence," the statement said.

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Cricket world held to ransom!
by SVS on 2008-01-30 08:38:53.528645+05:30
How can anybody take India seriously anymore when we all no the outcome will be India withdrawing from a game when something doesn't go their way. Perhaps you could all save us a lot of time and appoint yourselves the number 1 cricket team in the world (otherwise you will never play again) and be happy with your world domination of cricket! While you are at it, you could also have any teams records that have beaten India over the last 50 years overturned. Congratulations India on your deserved reputation as the most feared cricket side in the world. Too bad it's not your cricket skills anybody fears!!!
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At what cost ?
by withheld on 2008-01-30 07:25:25.565563+05:30
Inevitably, Harbhajan Singh's appeal was successful. Finally, it was held that 'there was not enough proof to justify a conviction'. The BCCI, it would appear, has been driven by fear and not reason or trust in justice, a frailty that ruined the goodwill despite the outcome. BCCI's threat of pulling out was deplorable. However, it was perhaps more to do with incompetence rather than any arrogance of money power or belief in bullying tactics. Unfortunately, india is full of such politicians who end up in positions that matter. Intellectuals are too 'gentle-manly' to assert.
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Harbhajan
by Geoff on 2008-01-30 02:40:43.245103+05:30
The BCCI has stained India's international reputation by using arrogant and bullying tactics in this matter. And Cricket Australia has shown a contemptible lack of morality and courage in caving in. If the BCCI wanted to go home because one of their players was accused of using a racist word, they should have simply been told "good-bye".As for Harbhajan and his supporters, how can anyone believe he swore in Hindi at an Australian cricketer who does not understand Hindi? How anyone can believe that is only one of the amazing features of this matter.
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Unbelievable, is n't it ?
by withheld on 2008-01-30 07:32:52.592584+05:30
Geoff, it was not one of the best credentials for BCCI. But let us get to it with a clear perspective. There was no discernible evidence to substantiate the allegation. That does not mean that there was no conflicts. People 'swear' in their mother toungue without realising that thier 'target' will not understand it. I have been called many things in my class by Oz students and they stopped only when I told them to educate me of the meaning too arguing that otherwise they will not have the fun of 'irritating' me. I have been called a 'monkey' too and every 'witness' enjoyed it as a joke, including me.
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Manish
by Manish on 2008-01-30 00:52:16.032845+05:30
That's true.
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Harbhajan
by Abheet on 2008-01-29 22:32:35.33995+05:30
Bhajji is lucky that he got away with lesser charge. If he was honest then he should have told the umpires and Procter that he swore in Hindi and had not called Symonds a monkey. If that had happened then all ill feelings could have been avoided. Bhajji changing his story and getting away with it only proves the clout of BCCI. It is a great shame that Bhajji did not have the guts to stand up like a man and admit to exactly what he said. Intially people like myself gave Bhajji benefit of doubt but now we believe that Bhajji has not been honest.It is a shame for the game of cricket where big players like BCCI can influence the judgement in their favor. A sad day indeed.
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