Update 6pm Sydney time: The Indian squad has remained in Sydney on advice from the BCCI, pending the outcome of the Harby appeal. The team was due to travel to Canberra for a tour match but, after spending two hours on a tour bus, returned to their Sydney hotel.A statement issued by the BCCI said they will fight the "blatantly false and unfair slur" on an Indian player."The Board will appeal to the International Cricket Council to review the decision of the Match Referee and suspend its operation till the appeal is disposed of," the statement said.“The Indian Board realises the game of cricket is paramount but so too is the honour of the Indian team and for that matter every Indian.Earlier report: According to Fairfax newspapers, India has alleged that Hogg referred to a player as a “bastard” - a term considered highly offensive in India. This comes after Indian team management attempted to talk down the seriousness of using the word “monkey”, with team manager Chetan Chauhan stating, “It is not a derogatory word in India.” After a hearing lasting four hours, match referee Mike Procter upheld the Level 3 charge against Harbhajan, though it is likely that India will appeal the decision. If an appeal is lodged with the ICC, Harby will be free to play until the appeal is heard. Otherwise, he won’t take any further part in the series.Speaking to the media after the hearing Mike Procter said, “I am satisfied beyond a reasonable doubt that Harbhajan Singh directed that word (“monkey”) at Andrew Symonds and also that he meant it to offend on the basis of Symonds’ race or ethnic origin.”At the time of the incident, Harby was batting with Sachin Tendulkar and went out of his way to approach Symonds. Australian captain Ricky Ponting was informed immediately and, as required by a pre-series agreement, reported the breach of conduct to the on-field umpires.Australia won the second Test in controversial circumstances, after numerous incorrect umpiring decisions benefited the hosts. Indian skipper Anil Kumble accused Ponting’s team of not playing in the spirit of the game, and the Aussie skipper responded angrily when his integrity was questioned.“I think only one team was playing in the spirit of the game,” said Kumble at his post-match press conference, prompting a round of applause from Indian journalists. When an Indian journalist questioned Ponting’s claims to have caught Mahendra Singh Dhoni cleanly, the Aussie captain responded angrily. “I think you’ve got something wrong there,” he snapped. “There is no way I grounded that ball. If you are actually questioning my integrity in the game then you shouldn’t be standing there.”Ponting refused to claim a catch off Rahul Dravid in the first innings because he wasn’t sure whether it carried. “Doesn’t that explain the way I play the game? I am saying I am 100 per cent sure I would have caught that catch off Dhoni today. As it turned out it was given not out anyway. Am I right or wrong? Am I right or wrong?” he asked.The captains agreed prior to the series that a fieldsman’s word would be sufficient to determine whether a catch had been taken cleanly or not, though Kumble said that would need to be reviewed. Michael Clarke claimed a catch earlier in the day though replays, as always, were inconclusive.Tuesday, January 8, 2008
TOUR SUSPENDED AFTER HARBY BAN
Update 6pm Sydney time: The Indian squad has remained in Sydney on advice from the BCCI, pending the outcome of the Harby appeal. The team was due to travel to Canberra for a tour match but, after spending two hours on a tour bus, returned to their Sydney hotel.A statement issued by the BCCI said they will fight the "blatantly false and unfair slur" on an Indian player."The Board will appeal to the International Cricket Council to review the decision of the Match Referee and suspend its operation till the appeal is disposed of," the statement said.“The Indian Board realises the game of cricket is paramount but so too is the honour of the Indian team and for that matter every Indian.Earlier report: According to Fairfax newspapers, India has alleged that Hogg referred to a player as a “bastard” - a term considered highly offensive in India. This comes after Indian team management attempted to talk down the seriousness of using the word “monkey”, with team manager Chetan Chauhan stating, “It is not a derogatory word in India.” After a hearing lasting four hours, match referee Mike Procter upheld the Level 3 charge against Harbhajan, though it is likely that India will appeal the decision. If an appeal is lodged with the ICC, Harby will be free to play until the appeal is heard. Otherwise, he won’t take any further part in the series.Speaking to the media after the hearing Mike Procter said, “I am satisfied beyond a reasonable doubt that Harbhajan Singh directed that word (“monkey”) at Andrew Symonds and also that he meant it to offend on the basis of Symonds’ race or ethnic origin.”At the time of the incident, Harby was batting with Sachin Tendulkar and went out of his way to approach Symonds. Australian captain Ricky Ponting was informed immediately and, as required by a pre-series agreement, reported the breach of conduct to the on-field umpires.Australia won the second Test in controversial circumstances, after numerous incorrect umpiring decisions benefited the hosts. Indian skipper Anil Kumble accused Ponting’s team of not playing in the spirit of the game, and the Aussie skipper responded angrily when his integrity was questioned.“I think only one team was playing in the spirit of the game,” said Kumble at his post-match press conference, prompting a round of applause from Indian journalists. When an Indian journalist questioned Ponting’s claims to have caught Mahendra Singh Dhoni cleanly, the Aussie captain responded angrily. “I think you’ve got something wrong there,” he snapped. “There is no way I grounded that ball. If you are actually questioning my integrity in the game then you shouldn’t be standing there.”Ponting refused to claim a catch off Rahul Dravid in the first innings because he wasn’t sure whether it carried. “Doesn’t that explain the way I play the game? I am saying I am 100 per cent sure I would have caught that catch off Dhoni today. As it turned out it was given not out anyway. Am I right or wrong? Am I right or wrong?” he asked.The captains agreed prior to the series that a fieldsman’s word would be sufficient to determine whether a catch had been taken cleanly or not, though Kumble said that would need to be reviewed. Michael Clarke claimed a catch earlier in the day though replays, as always, were inconclusive.