Neil Gardner and Agencies
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Harbhajan Singh will not face any action over claims he made racist taunts to sections of the crowd in Sydney during the first match of the CB Series finals against Australia yesterday.
Harbhajan was crucial in Sunday's victory that gave India a 1-0 lead in the tri-series finals, claiming the key wickets of Andrew Symonds and Matthew Hayden.
Jeff Crowe, the match referee, investigated the allegations after suggestions that the off-spinner had made monkey gestures and spat at sections of the crowd, but decided not to take any action.
"I have investigated the alleged incident with Cricket Australia's ground security officials after reading newspaper reports and viewing related photographs that have been published," Crowe said. "After reviewing all available information, I conclude that there is no need to take any action against Harbhajan Singh."
India were adamant Harbhajan was innocent. "He did nothing," Bimal Soni, India's manager, said. "These stories, I do not believe them and strongly condemn them. I think it is wrong. Nothing has been done like that, they are making a mountain out of a molehill."
Allan Border, the former Australia captain, has also lent his support to the spinner and praised his behaviour in the face of provocation from the crowd.
"I'm not too sure how serious it is," Border said. "I mean I was at the ground yesterday and I was on that side of the ground and Harbhajan was copping a fair bit of stick from the crowd. I didn't notice any gestures at all and I thought he handled himself quite well to be quite honest."
Harbhajan was banned for three matches after he was found guilty of racially abusing Andrew Symonds but the suspension was subsequently overturned on appeal.
Australia batsman Matthew Hayden was also reprimanded last week for describing Harbhajan as an "obnoxious weed".
But Australia's Mike Hussey said he and his team mates knew nothing about the alleged incidents.
"I haven't heard a single thing about it," he said. "I'm not so sure how serious it is. I think the Australian and Indian public have had enough of all the controversy. We just want to concentrate on the cricket."
India beat Australia by six wickets in Sydney and could seal the tri-series tournament with victory in the second match in Brisbane on Tuesday.
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well its going on for a while now....and everytime there is a blow up of events... imagine if Bhaji is a non-performer, no australian would have cared about it. it is quite clear that they are falling short of their victories due to cricketing incapabilities and Bhajji is just a thorn in their flesh - one who shows them the way out.... Other thing is that if you want chase someone with your cameras on, from dawn to dusk.. you can really come out with lots of stuff which you can keep brooding about all day.. so why target some one & bother too much.... just as a matter of fact, there was no reason for Symonds to man-handle the intruder, he did nt have any weapon with him or he never made any attempt to attack...so every other person has so much within, it is the context in which it is taken, just have a look at the picture just above in this site Mathew hoggard sticking his tongue out - i dont think anyone wud mind that anytime, but if u really want to make a fuss - YOU CAN..
Third Eye, New world,
well its going on for a while now....and everytime there is a blow up of events... imagine if Bhaji is a non-performer, no australian would have cared about it. it is quite clear that they are falling short of their victories due to cricketing incapabilities and Bhajji is just a thorn in their flesh - one who shows them the way out.... Other thing is that if you want chase someone with your cameras on, from dawn to dusk.. you can really come out with lots of stuff which you can keep brooding about all day.. so why target some one & bother too much.... just as a matter of fact, there was no reason for Symonds to man-handle the intruder, he did nt have any weapon with him or he never made any attempt to attack...so every other person has so much within, it is the context in which it is taken, just have a look at the picture just above in this site Mathew hoggard sticking his tongue out - i dont think anyone wud mind that anytime, but if u really want to make a fuss - YOU CAN..
Third Eye, New world,
Speaking as a pom of W.Indian descent I find the monkey taunts extremely offensive. Ask anyone of Afro-Caribbean heritage and they will tell you the same thing. The reference to monkey is an obscenity that dishonours all Indians whenever they use it.
I was appalled by the monkey chants by the fans in Mumbai last year, and horrified that the BCCI were so slow to take action. I was shiocked that the Indian media tried to make excuses for the crowd by claiming that monkey is not an offensive term in India, some even said it was a compliment - not to anyone from my part of the world it isn't.
SO I beg of you. Stop using the term monkey, and NEVER make jokes about "monkey being a race". There is nothing amusing about this sad story, and none of it brings any honour to you your countrymen, or your nation.
P.S. Bhaji has never denied using the "m" word in Mumbai and never condemned its use. For me, that makes him rascist.
Alan, London, UK
Dear Sir,
The Indo Australian cricket teams' troubles sterted after the Aussies lost the T-twenty matches. Symmonds wrote an arricle about the celebrations in India welcoming the winners, the Indian team must have felt bad at this. Some in the crowd made monkey gestures at Symmonds in India and some of these were arrested.
The complaint against Harbhajan of racial slur came after he took three of ponting's wickets. The Judge hearing the appeal did not accept the statements of Hayden and Clarke and dmonished Symmonds for starting the whole thing when Bhajji patted Lee on his bottom as an appreciative gesture.
When Ishant Sharma took Ponting's wicket he was fines for showing Symmonds the dressing room after he was out.
Now they have a new monkey trial the basis of whch is declared false by none other than Alan Border.
A basic question. Are monkeys considered a race? And do Symmonds and others who were watching the game in Sydney belong to this race?
Let the Aussies behave.
K S Sarma, Chennai, Tamilnadu,India