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Although Harbhajan himself has not made any statement on the matter, Indian media manager M V Sridhar said the spinner has told the management that he did not taunt Symonds racially during their spat on the third day of the ongoing second cricket Test on Friday.
“According to Harbhajan he did not say anything which was offensive,” he said.
Sridhar also rubbished suggestions that Symonds’ complaint against Harbhajan would have any bearing on the relationship between the BCCI and Cricket Australia.
“The relationship between the BCCI and CA is excellent and this Test match has seen some very competitive cricket being played. We would not let allow a small incident to overshadow everything,” he said.
The exact comments are not known but Sridhar confirmed that a “hearing” against Harbhajan is scheduled for Saturday.
Umpires Mark Benson and Steve Bucknor have laid the charge after consulting an agitated Ricky Ponting at the end of the day’s play.
Harbhajan has been reported for International Cricket Council’s Code of Conduct 3.3.
It states: “Using language or gestures that offends, insults, humiliates, intimidates, threatens, disparages or vilifies another person on the basis of that person’s race, religion, gender, colour, descent or national or ethnic origin."



"Something gets triggered inside of you, something is burning inside of you - it is your will for success or your animal instinct that wants to bring another team down," Symonds said. "We have been at the top for so long, it is like someone has taken the favourite thing you own from you and you want it back." said Symonds to Cricinfo after the Twenty20 celebrations that he witnessed on Indian players return from South Africa. Now,all I request is that no judgement should be passed on Harbhajan without taking in to account Symonds hatered for Indian players which he expressed in no uncertain terms in all his media interactions in India. Symonds even dared Sreeshanth to step foot in Australia where he said Sreesanth will get his due. His run-ins with Harbjajan made him say both Sreesanth and Harbhajan are not the types he will like to deal with. If one investigates further Symonds can not escape punishment too.
I really feel sorry for the Umpires (Steve bucknor and Mark Bensen) for their inexperience in the cricket field. I feel they are just supporting Symmond (prolly they have some understandign between them). I defnly feel cheated being an Indian. this Indian team is pretty strong and have strong values towards cricket. I keep watching on the TV Aussies keeping abusing and commenting Indian cricketers while they are on teh field, which was ignored by Indian team, this defnly portrays forget and forgive attitude from Indian team. Since the Umpires' decision was respected during the stay of Symmond on teh field. I think it needs to be supported again when the on field umpire says, he has not heard Bhajji saying anything offensive to Symond. This kind of Cheating will not take Australians far in Cricket. its high time they learn to play some honest cricket
Is there any help the media can offer by highlighting the poor umpiring that has been the bane of the Ind Vs Aus series? The SCG test has been pathetic for India and the BCCI better do something since there is already so much pressure on the players. Also, the Indian media should get on the case of the cry-baby Aussies who cry for every single thing. Sledging was considered an official part of their cricket, so what happened to the ICC all those days and why wasnt there a single probe? It would be nice to see all of India get behind our players and use sport as a reason to get together and show the players we are behind them.
BBC shud object strongly for the umpiring particularly Bucknor who is old man and seems favouring Australia for what God knows, ICC shud ban him and punish for som many wrong decisions that too against India only
how can a non white indian like harbhajan taunt another non white? this is riduculous. who started the exchanges in the first place? if you start something - then you cannot cry later.
Todays cricket is now not a gentleman's game but Aussies makes it an evilman games
Why steve bucknor not force to take retirement by ICC. Tendulkar suffer a lot due to his bad umpiring.
It is unfortunate. Most of the fans are there to cheer on their team and let the legends of all teams know that they are appreciated. A few hot heads shouting racist taunts and holding racist banners really make the whole crowd look nasty. As for on field sledging, I don't think it is as big a deal as sledging fans. These are well paid professional sportsmen, I don't feel sorry for any of them whether they started it or not, they all dish it out now which makes them all as bad as each other. What the crowds have to learn though is that when a racist in one country sees a racist in another country on TV, all it does is fuel his hatred (have you noticed it's never the women carrying on with this rubbish?).
What is being forgotten is when you racially abuse someone you abuse there whole race and country symonds is black and he is an australian so not only is he being abused his nation is.I do not find it hard to believe he was abused if you look back when Australia was in india as there crowds taunted him.This is nit one person this is thousands of people all attacking one man.It is the most shameful act in sport i have seen.If that had happened in Australia action would have been taken straight away.These are proffesional sportsman hold your tongue or pay the price
well said but does it mean that you can cheat in the game like the 2nd test, it could have been repaied by well behaved people there like we appreciae all the officials have cheered Tendulkar on his 38th Century.
mbulusu is right hundred percent.It is not just the aussies that play this cheating games.It is a charecter of the whites to cheat others.Very few are decent.If Indians have not learnt it yet they never will.That is the world today.Know it as it is or perish not just in cricket but in life itself.
Rarely have the Aussies shown sportsman spirit.While they involve in sledging and say it is part and parcel of the game,they immediately shout at the top of their voices about racist remarks whey they are at the receiving end.
Could it be a Ponting ploy to avoid Bhajji in the next two tests? We all know, Bhajji's spin is making Ponting look confused with the bat.
I fully agree with u it is preplaned as Ponting cannot face Bhajji, he agitated Symond so that this cud happen.....
I don't think it is correct call Symmonds a Monkey. Infact, the way these Aussies are behaving, it definitely is a monkey business with this pack of Ponting Dingo's. Man, don't they ever grow up over there ??? Unbeliveable !!!
It is unfortunate that Bajji has to go thur' this when he is in great form with bat and ball. However, he should have concenrated on the job, knowing the umpires are NOT neutral, but openly and blatantly supporting Australia. Discretion is the better part of valour. However, hot heads like Sreesanth and Bajji would learn (if ever) after severe punishments (even for no crime)only. These players gave a lot to Aussies (especially Symonds) in India and they should have been careful when they visit Australia. They should know Australians would have a strategy ready to give back. Australian cricketers are far too clever for the Indians, cricket-wise or street-wise, anyday. When are we going to learn?? I wish the best for Bajji and the Indian team which badly needs Bajji for the rest of the tour.
The Aussies have not only taught the world how to sledge - but have consistently held the world "sledging" cup - an honour they dont seem to want to lose - especially to the Indians. What I find particularly surprising is while most of the Aussie players as well as spectators accept sledging as a normal part of the game - they are all too eager to define what is acceptable sledging and what is not! Sledging by definition is supposed to be offensive. You cannot have the cake and eat it too. If you accept sledging as a part of the game - then be willing to take what you get (racist or otherwise) on the chin like a man. If you are easily offended - they shut up and stop sledging in the first place.Selective sledging - smacks of a hypocrisy that is worse that racism.In fact - I think it is a blatant racisim on Australias part to take on the role of defining what is acceptable and what is offensive in the world of sledgin.
It is unfortunate that Bajji has to go thur' this when he is in great form with bat and ball. However, he should have concenrated on the job, knowing the umpires are NOT neutral, but openly and blatantly supporting Australia. Discretion is the better part of valour. However, hot heads like Sreesanth and Bajji would learn (if ever) after severe punishments (even for no crime). These players gave a lot to Aussies (especially Symonds) in India and they should have been careful when they visit Australia. They should know Australians would have a strategy ready to give back. Australian cricketers are far too clever for the Indians, criket-wise or street-wise, anyday. When are we going to learn??
Looks like the Aussies are at it again. when they are down, they try to look for things other than cricket to upset the opposing team. And why would harbhajan instigate things when he was doing the damage to Australia. the gall of Ponting to make an accusation...form the biggest slur merchants in the game.This Australian team should be ashamed of themselves. And Gilchrist should preach his "walk when you nick it" to his teammates rather than anyone else!
This is just another incident and way of Aussie-RIcky Ponting's way of punishing Bhajji for his comments a few days ago. The whole Aussie team (and to an extent the board also) plays the mind game in intimidating opposite teams specially their star players and those who ever dare to be bold enough to comment something about Aussie player(s). Just before few days, Bhajji had commented that he got Pontng in 7 out of last 8 test encounters.....and this is the price he is paying for those comments.....This may have nothing to do with Symonds, but the whole thing is being hyped/created to teach BHajji (and then by implication, the rest of the cricketers worldwide) a lesson not to utter anything in future against Ponting and be submissive to the Aussie all time!!!!
YES, BULLIES ARE TASTING THEIR OWN MEDICINE. MEDIA SHOULD SHOW THE CLIPS AGAIN AND AGAIN WHAT THEY WERE DOING. ...........BUT BY THE WAY, THE SRK THE TAPORI HAS CORRUPTED DHONI.
Aussies are playing games!They are the ones who dish out abuse to everybody else ALL THE TIME! If somebody fights back, they start complaining!Indians should stand behind their team, at least in this aspect! Treat Aussies with their own medicine!
What a strange..Everyone saw what Symonds was uttering again and again. ANyone who could read lips a bit can easily make out what that 'gentleman' was up to. After all this he is also complaining of racial abuse. Mr. Symonds mind your ways before complaining all the time about racial abuse. You will get what you give to others.
In all fairness, Harbhajan Singh should have kept cool and contained his feelings to himself, howsoever strong that might be on the cricket pitch. This is not the first time that Harbhajan Singh is being accused of racism levelled against Australian cricketer, Simonds. On an earlier occasion also, in the company of Indian pace bowler Srisanth, Harbhajan Singh was involved in a brawl with Simonds for which he was admonished. As a disciplined sportsperson, it is incumbent on all members of the Team India to be accommodating and friendly with the host cricket team,avoiding any confrontation necessitating a disciplinary action by the umpires.
Let us put Bhajji-Symonds or Sri-Symonds back. SEE HOW AUSTRALLIAN SPECTATORS cheered and appreciated Tendulker. Think our crowds should learn to appreciate more enthusiastically. We are silent when opposite players play good cricket. We may loud our players a bit more, but should not fail to appreciate opposition. See how Gavsker,Vishy, Zaheerabbas,Imran or Jaysurya were appreciated in UK and even Aus. when these guys played good cricket. This is what cricket is all about. Loud noise and big banners dont win matches.
Looks like Mr. "P.S" has never been at the receiving end of sledging from Aussies! It can be very corrosive! (i have been through it)! Yes, i agree with playing the game aggressively, professionally, and gentlemanly. BUT occasionally, you have to payback the aussie cricketers with their own medicine!!!! Let them KNOW HOW IT FEELS!
Isn't is strange ! When Australia found themselves on the receving end , they suddenly feel racially abused !!! Ofcourse, they feel racilally abused by "Bhajji" becuase his innings robed them of 1st innings lead which they were dreaming of since "Bucknor" scored 130 runs for them in the first innings. Ausies are turning into cry babies. They are unable to digest the fact that the rest of the world is cathing up on the sledgeing game, which they are the pioneers.
Vijay - Your comments show a naivety and blind ignorance that sadly tinges the world's view of Indian cricket supporters. The comments made by "P.S." about appreciating the beauty of the game and acknowledging opposition play is important.Harbhajan Singh has a history os racist behaviour and his attitude towards Australians has been apparent for some time. Sadly his rudeness and arrogance are problems which exist amongst a few key players in the India team unfortunately. Standout exceptions are Tendulkar and Kumble, but the majority see the Australian brashness in style of play, but fail to see their humility and ability to play an honest game hard.
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