The potential bomb that was ticking all the time the time when
India travelled down under after a ferociously competitive series in India has
finally burst taking the cricketing world by storm and in all probability ending
Harbhajan's chances of further participation in the series. After a long drawn
hearing by match referee Mike Procter which included the testimonies
of four Australian players and lasted for more than four hours, the Indian off
spinner has been accused of breaching Level 3 of the ICC's Code of Conduct and
has been slapped a three match test ban effective immediately. The Indian team
has been given a day to appeal against it, following which Harbhajan Singh
will be allowed to play till a final verdict is out.
The trouble first started during Australia's tour of India when Harbhajan was accused of calling Symonds a "monkey" during the Mumbai one dayer.Andrew Symonds was quick to remind Harbhajan over the racial overtones associated with that statement and the Indian off spinner had apologized to Symonds for that slur.However,things got out of hand in the second test match between India and Australia when Harbhajan apparently used the same slur against Symonds after reaching his half-century in Sydney. Ricky Pointing was reported to have made a formal complaint to the match referee about this and the testimonies of four unnamed Australian cricketers was enough to convince Mike Procter about Harbhajan's misconduct.
The second test between India and Australia concluded today
with India suffering yet another defeat at the hands of the Mighty Australians.Ironacially,the
test at Sydney will most likely be remembered for atrocious umpiring decisions
and the on-field non-cricketing tussle between the two sides rather than one
of the finest test hundreds by Sachin Tendulkar. Brad Hogg has
also been reported to be going on racial overtones against some of India's crickets
and he faces a disciplinary meeting this Monday which would decide his future
in the series.
Harbhajan and the Indian team have been given twenty-four hours to appeal against this decision following Harbhajan can play till the final jury is out. The Indian think tank is reported to be preparing a strong a vigorous defence for their spin bowler. The bad blood between the two teams has been around for quite some time but the Sydney test has seen it touch epic proportions and most cricket lovers throughout the world will be hoping that the both these sides do all the talking with the bat and ball when the third test of this controversial series begins in two weeks time at the WACA.
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