MIL/Agencies, Jan 29, 2008. Author: James Dart and agencies
January 29, 2008 - The India spinner Harbhajan Singh has today been cleared of racially abusing Australia's Andrew Symonds and had his three-Test ban lifted at an Internatinal Cricket Council (ICC) code of conduct hearing. Instead the off-spinner has been fined 50% of his match fee from the second Test in Sydney, having pleaded guilty to using abusive language towards Symonds.
The New Zealand high court judge John Hansen ruled there was insufficient evidence to prove an offence under rule 3.3 of the code of conduct, which relates to racially insulting behaviour. The maximum penalty for a level two offence - which covers abusive language - is a one-Test ban or a suspension of two one-day internationals, but Harbhajan's punishment is at the lowest end of the scale. Audio and video evidence was presented at the trial, while a full explanation of Hansen's decision will be made tomorrow.
The Commonwealth Bank triangular one-day series will also go ahead, with the Board of Control for Cricket and India (BCCI) understandably pleased with the outcome of the hearing.
Cricket Australia's spokesman Peter Young is keen for both sides to put the unsavoury incident behind them and concentrate on the upcoming triangular series involving the two teams and Sri Lanka. "All parties will move on with the cricket," said Young. "The game is the important thing."
The India captain Anil Kumble shared Young's sentiments. "It's time to move on," said Kumble. "This matter was lingering on for the last two weeks or so, although cricket was being played, but now the matter is settled. I'm really happy and relieved, not just for Harbhajan, but for cricket overall. It's time to start concentrating on the game."
The match umpires Mark Benson and Steve Bucknor had brought the charge against Harbhajan under section 3.3 of the ICC code of conduct after receiving a complaint from the Australia captain Ricky Ponting when the spinner was batting alongside Sachin Tendulkar. Harbhajan allegedly called Symonds "a monkey", but when Harbhajan's original suspension was announced the BCCI threatened to cancel the rest of the tour unless the charges were dropped.
