Outraged Indian cricket fans are very upset in the wake of their extraordinary second test loss to Australia. A few recorded umpire mistakes were seized on by bored commentators in the first few days of the test. Those same commentators weren't to know of the amazing finish, with part time bowler taking three wickets off five deliveries to win the match in the second last over.
The insult delivered by spinner Harbhajan Singh to Aboriginal Andrew Symonds was one that had been dealt with during the last tour of India. Although the actual insult is minor, the nature of the insult is both racist and inflammatory. One can see the flames in the picture.
Tuesday, January 08, 2008
Blame This On ICC's Poor Management
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India suspend tour of Australia
THE Indian cricket board (BCCI) flexed its muscle in sensational fashion by suspending its team's tour of Australia pending the outcome of Harbhajan Singh's appeal.
Harbhajan's three-Test suspension for calling Symonds a "monkey" during the stormy SCG Test has triggered one of the most explosive developments in Australian sporting history.
The cash-rich BCCI risk a fine of up to $US2 million ($A2.3 million) for pulling out of the tour and could be liable to reimburse Cricket Australia for any losses incurred.
"The tour is on technically," said team spokesman M.V Sridhar in Sydney.
The side had been scheduled to head to Canberra but instead were ordered to remain in Sydney until the BCCI send further instructions.
The decision followed a turbulent 24 hours after Australia's dramatic victory over India at the SCG as relations between the two cricketing superpowers reached breaking point.
Harbhajan's punishment was the final straw for the embattled tourists who trailed in their four-Test series 2-0.
Skipper Anil Kumble provocatively accused the Australians of not playing in the spirit of the game after the SCG Test and BCCI big wigs have called on umpire Steve Bucknor to be scratched from the third Test in Perth scheduled to start Wednesday week.
They may get their wish with Bucknor likely to be rubbed out of the WACA clash.
The Indian camp intends on submitting its appeal against Harbhajan's suspension after launching a blistering attack on the findings from the International Cricket Council's six hour hearing overnight.
"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," the BCCI said in a statement.
"To vindicate its position, the Board will fight the blatantly false and unfair slur on an Indian player.
"The board will appeal to the ICC to review the decision of the match referee and suspend its operation until the appeal is disposed of."
The tourists have argued Harbhajan's hearing was a case of the word of the Indian players against that of the Australians.
In such a situation, they believe the spinner should not have been found guilty.
The latest developments clearly caught Cricket Australia off guard with a spokesman saying that high-level CA officials were unaware of the tour suspension despite having been in contact with BCCI president Sharad Pawar.
"Cricket Australia have not been advised to this affect and so are not in a position to comment at this stage," the CA spokesman said.
CA chief executive James Sutherland earlier tried to ease fears regarding the tour's future with the Indians due to play an ACT Invitational XI this week in Canberra.
"BCCI president Sharad Pawar made a commitment overnight (that the tour would continue) and that's good enough for me," Sutherland said.
Sutherland said CA was supportive of the "hard but fair" way Australia played, but was hopeful Ponting and Kumble could meet to discuss their sides' differences of opinion.
"Cricket Australia supports the Australian team in its endeavours to play the game as best they possibly can," he said.
"It's always been the Australian way to play the game of cricket hard but fair."
Australian skipper Ricky Ponting said any boycott would be an extreme measure.
"They're entitled to do whatever they think is appropriate at the time, but for me that would be a little bit extreme," Ponting said before the tour was suspended.
The Indians have also lodged an official complaint against Australia's Brad Hogg for abusive language towards Kumble during the second Test.
Not that it should bother the Australian selectors too much.
The legspinner failed to fire on a crumbling final day SCG pitch and was tipped to make way for speedster Shaun Tait in Perth anyhow.
The Indians have two more Tests and a triangular one-day international tournament scheduled this summer with Sri Lanka.
The ugly developments have been predictably met with scenes of anger in the Indian streets with the burning of effigies of umpires Bucknor and Mark Benson along with protesters labelling Ponting a "cheat".
AAP
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