India suspend tour pending appeal

SYDNEY: The Indian cricket board (BCCI) has suspended its team's tour of Australia pending the outcome of an appeal for banned spinner Harbhajan Singh.

Although there is no suggestion the tour will be canceled, the BCCI ordered its players to remain in their Sydney hotel rather than travel to Canberra for their next practice match.

BCCI vice-president Rajiv Shukla told media a decision on when the players would leave Sydney and resume training would be made within the next 24 hours.

"Tomorrow at seven (7 am) we have convened a working committee meeting. All these issues will be decided there," Shukla said.

"Officially I can only say that the team is in Sydney. Team management has already said the BCCI has given them directive to stay back in Sydney."

The BCCI released a statement saying it had taken the stance to protect the honor of its nationals after Harbhajan was handed a three-match suspension for racially abusing Australian all-rounder Andrew Symonds during the second test in Sydney.

The spinner strongly denies the charges.

"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 BCCI said.

"The Indian Board realizes the game of cricket is paramount but so too is the honor of the Indian team and for that matter every Indian.

"To vindicate its position, the Board will fight the blatantly false and unfair slur on an Indian player."

Cricket Australia chief executive James Sutherland told reporters in Melbourne that he had been assured the tour would proceed.

"The chairman of Indian cricket overnight made a commitment that it would and that's good enough for me," Sutherland said.

Sutherland proposed a peace meeting between Australia captain Ricky Ponting and Indian skipper Anil Kumble to try and resolve the escalating crisis.

Emotions began to boil over immediately after the match when Kumble accused the Australians of bad sportsmanship, evoking memories of Bill Woodfull's criticism of England during the 1932-33 "Bodyline" series.

"In the course of the next few days it is time for the two captains to get together and have a chat," Sutherland said.

Ponting said the Australians retained the greatest respect for the Indian players and he was confident there would be no lasting bad blood because of the fallout.

"I think it's important for us to realize that India and Australia have got and had tremendous relationships through 100 years of test cricket," he told the Nine Network.

"You'd like to think that one little incident like this wouldn't bring undone all the great work that's been done over a long period of time."

Australia produced an amazing finish to beat India by 122 runs on Sunday to equal its own world record of 16 successive wins, but the result was overshadowed by a series of controversies.

The Indians were upset at a number of crucial decisions that went against them and announced they would lodge an official complaint at the performances of the two on-field umpires, West Indian Steve Bucknor and England's Mark Benson.

The BCCI also announced it was lodging a separate protest against Australian all-rounder Brad Hogg, claiming he used abusive language at Kumble, although it was the suspension of the popular Harbhajan that had caused the most fury.

"That he was charged for racism is unacceptable to us. We want him cleared of the charge," Shukla said.

The ICC is expected to hear the Harbhajan appeal this week. The remaining two tests of the series, which Australia leads 2-0, are scheduled to be held later this month in Perth and Adelaide.

Agencies

(China Daily 01/08/2008 page24)