In a move that’s going to give rise to more acrimony between the two sides, Indian spinner Harbhajan Singh was banned for three Test matches tonight for racially abusing Australian all-rounder Andrew Symonds during the Sydney Test.

International Cricket Council (ICC) match referee Mike Proctor upheld the charge after a marathon six-hour plus hearing. Harbhajan had denied he racially abused Symonds. The BCCI said it would appeal against the ban.

BCCI secretary Niranjan Shah told The Indian Express: “We are totally backing Harbhajan on this and in the next 24 hours will appeal against the ICC decision.” Though Shah was non-committal, Board sources ruled out chances of Indians pulling out of the tour. With the Board appealing against the ban, it is likely that the issue may just drag. The Indians are hoping that this ambiguity may allow Harbhajan play the next two Tests.

Team manager Chetan Chauhan, who represented the Indian side at the hearing along with media manager M V Sridhar, skipper Anil Kumble, Sachin Tendulkar and Harbhajan Singh, later said two Australian players, Matthew Hayden and Michael Clarke, had alleged that Harbhajan called Symonds a “big monkey” — but this was not heard by Sachin, who was then Harbhajan’s batting partner, and the two umpires.

Sridhar said there was no evidence to suggest that Harbhajan made any racial slur. “We will be extremely disappointed if action is taken against Harbhajan since we feel that there is no evidence against him,” Sridhar told reporters after the hearing.

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