Sydney: Indian off-spinner Harbhajan Singh has been banned for three Test matches for racially abusing Australian all-rounder Andrew Symonds.
The International Cricket Council (ICC) match referee Mike Procter went with the Australian team’s version during the hearing that went on for more than six hours and decided to punish the Indian off-spinner.
According to the ICC's statement Harbhajan called Symonds a 'monkey' and it was a racial abuse on the basis of race and ethnic origin.
"I am satisfied beyond a reasonable doubt that Harbhajan Singh directed that word at Andrew Symonds and also that he meant it to offend on the basis of Symonds’ race or ethnic origin,” Proctor said.
The ban comes into effect with immediate effect but the player could lodge an appeal with the ICC's legal counsel (Commissioner of Appeals) in writing within 24 hours.
Harbhajan can represent India while the appeal is under consideration.
However, Indian manager Chetan Chauhan said that Harbhajan has been unfairly banned for three Test matches.
"Our points were ignored in the meeting. We think this ban is unfair," Chauhan said.
"The match referee was of the opinion that choice of words should be correct even if there was a provocation. He was satisfied that the players who accused Harbhajan said the truth. He said that this kind of incident has happened before in India and Harbhajan apologised to Symonds and the ban is in keeping with the earlier incident," he said.
Chauhan also reacted angrily about the poor umpiring in the second Test that India lost by 122 runs.
"We don't want these (Steve Bucknor and Mark Benson) umpires in the future matches. Incompetent umpiring has cost us this match," he said.
Reacting to the ban, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) Vice-President Rajeev Shukla said that the Board would contest the ban.
"Both Harbhajan and BCCI will appeal against the ban within 24 hours," Shukla said.
BCCI Chief Administrative Manager Ratnakar Shetty said, "We will advise the team management on the future course of action. We will appeal against the decision. We will provide Harbhajan whatever legal help he needs."
Apart from Harbhajan, skipper Anil Kumble, Sachin Tendulkar, manager Chetan Chauhan and media manager MV Sridhar were present during the hearing while the Australian contingent included Symonds, skipper Ricky Ponting, Adam Gilchrist, Matthew Hayden, Michael Clarke and team manager Steve Bernard.
The ban is a dubious first for and Indian player as till now no one from the country has been banned for racial abuse.
Shukla also ruled out cancelling the tour for the time being and added that they are waiting for the response from the match referee on the complaint against Brad Hogg.
Hogg has been accused of abusing Kumble and Mahendra Singh Dhoni in the final session of play on Sunday.
"Hearing on our charge against Hogg will happen in Perth," Chauhan replied when asked about the charge against Hogg.
On Day III of the Sydney Test, Harbhajan and Symonds were involved a heated exchange of words with the Australian all-rounder later claiming that he was racially abused by the Indian off-spinner.
Ponting lodged a formal complain with Proctor who scheduled the hearing on Saturday after the end of the day's play. However, the hearing was postponed till Sunday on the request of the Indian team management.
Harbhajan has been charged under rule 3.3 of the ICC's Code of Conduct that deals with using language or gestures that insults a person on the basis of race, religion, colour, descent or national or ethnic origin.
On Friday, the off-spinner had denied making any racist comment.
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