Tendulkar likely to testify for Harbhajan in hearing

Agencies

Posted online: Saturday, January 05, 2008 at 0000 hrs IST

Sydney, January 5:
Sachin Tendulkar, who was in the middle when the alleged racial spat between Harbhajan Singh and Andrew Symonds broke out, is likely to testify in favour of the Indian off-spinner during the hearing scheduled with the ICC Match Referee on Sunday.

Indians will be well-represented with skipper Anil Kumble, manager Chetan Chauhan and media manager M V Sridhar also likely to accompany Harbhajan.

The Australians, meanwhile, are likely to be represented by skipper Ricky Ponting accompanied by Andrew Symonds and Brett Lee among others.

As things stood this evening, Harbhajan Singh was unlikely to face any action on the charge of ‘racist remarks’.

Apparently, the two umpires Mark Benson and Steve Bucknor have confirmed that they reported the matter on the insistence of Ponting and that they themselves did not hear anything provocative.

It would mean one man's word against the other and for want of evidence, Harbhajan is unlikely to cop a fine or punishment.

However, it remains to be seen whether anything offensive was recorded by the stump microphone, which will now become an instrument in bringing out the truth.