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Move on for cricket's sake, says Lee

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Agencies

Posted online: Wednesday, January 30, 2008 at 05:15:30
Updated: Wednesday, January 30, 2008 at 05:32:25


New Delhi, January 30: As the Sydney furore finally settles down with the lifting of ban on Indian off-spinner Harbhajan Singh, Australian pace spearhead Brett Lee urged the two teams to learn from the controversy and move on for the sake of cricket's future.

"I still believe Australian cricket and cricketers are respected and as long as everyone learns from the fall out of Sydney, I think we will be in a better place," Lee said in an interview from Adelaide.

"If I can see a positive out of it I am sure the two teams will have more of an appreciation of cultures," he added.

The bitter episode is finally drawing to a close with the ICC-appointed appeals commissioner New Zealand judge Justice John Hansen lifting the three-Test ban on Harbhajan for racist abuse by downgrading the charge against him.

The controversy has threatened to jeopardise Australian players' commercial interests like product endorsements in India.

Lee looked to be the biggest loser as he is the official brand ambassador of American watch giants Timex in India besides having interests in Bollywood and music projects but the pacer remains confident that his image and brand value were still intact in the country, which he often refers to as his second home.

"I was not concerned with the recent controversy as far as being their brand ambassador (Timex's) was concerned," he said in an e-mail interview.

The company also insisted that Lee's image has not been affected by the drama and they would persist with him as the face of their brand.

"Brett is not only a great athlete and sportsperson but also a talented and fashionable individual," Timex Group President Salil Sadanandan said.

Looking back at the controversy, Lee said it would not have snowballed into such a huge crisis had umpiring been good in the Sydney Test.

"Whilst I don't feel we conducted ourselves poorly, the closeness of the match coupled with a few contentious umpiring decisions 'magnified' the issues and these may have a been a 'straw that broke the camel's back'," he pointed out.

The affable speedster also brushed aside suggestions that the episode would have an effect on his equation with the Indians.

"I enjoy (the company) of Sachin (Tendulkar), (VVS) Laxman and (Rahul) Dravid. They are good blokes and I have spent a lot of time with them off the field particularly Sachin and Laxman. It would be fair to say we enjoy each other’s company," he said.

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Move on for cricket's sake, says Lee by Rachna Josan on 01 Feb 2008

It certainly would be best if both teams and countries could move forward (after learning their lessons properly though). It is doing nobody any good and affecting the spirit of cricket too. Sledging and abuse should not be allowed and let's just put an end to it now. No instigation, no retaliation - that should be fair enough. Everyone needs to show some restraint

Lee is Biased by james007 on 01 Feb 2008

Brett Lee has lot of vested interest, he has his commercials going, music album going, no wonder he is toning down the whole issue. Infact he could be the best judge of whole incident, instead of speaking the truth, he lied that Bhaji made racial comment. I guess time for indian audience to stop watching his shows/music, and stop buying the products which he endorses

Lee is Biased by Rachna Josan on 01 Feb 2008

How fair would it be to anybody to stop buying products just because his team behaved badly? At the same time we are asking for a fair treatment? If we want justice, we have to be just as well, right? And business interests apart, the problem arose not because of Lee but because of Symonds

Australian Cricketers in Indian Ads by Vinay on 31 Jan 2008

Lee - I don't have a problem watching him in indian ads.Sysmonds, Pointing

Brett Lee by subramanian on 31 Jan 2008

Let Brett Lee's words be treated with respect and let us forget the recent incidents which have proved the greatness of both the countries and Cricket again become a game of gentlemen and let the glorious uncertainties of the game mesmerise us all once again and let us hope all the players remember that they are all grown ups and not children any more .

Lee's reactions. by shanker on 31 Jan 2008

I think Australians are not fair. If they really care for cricket they should abondon the Sydney test and share titles with India as a drawn series.

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