indianexpress.com :: Sings of amicable solution in Harbhajan hearing

Sings of amicable solution in Harbhajan hearing

Agencies

Posted online: Tuesday, January 29, 2008 at 0855 hrs IST

Adelaide, January 29:
All signs pointed towards an amicable solution to the hearing on Harbhajan Singh's appeal against a three-Test ban at the Federal Court on Tuesday morning.

Master batsman Sachin Tendulkar came out of the hotel with Cricket Australia Chairman Craigh O'Connor in tow. Both then took a car for the Federal Court which was a clear signal that the hosts were now siding with the Indians in order to salvage the tour.

Fifteen minutes before, Harbhajan had come out with Indian team's media manager MV Sridhar, appearing confident of holding his ground in the all-important hearing.

Earlier in the day, the Indians made an announcement of their intent by asking its one-day players, present in Melbourne, to reach here and be together in this moment of crisis.

Along with this move, other members of the one-day squad here, including captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni and his deputy Yuvraj Singh were also asked to stay put.

The hearing began a little later than the appointed 11 am local time, with the Indians being represented by Harbhajan, Tendulkar and Sridhar while the Australians had Andrew Symonds, Michael Clarke, Matthew Hayden and Adam Gilchrist.

Only at the cross-examination stage of the hearing, would the managers of the two sides, Sridhar and Steve Bernard, be allowed to join in the hearing.

The day also saw the departure of Sourav Ganguly to home as well as the arrival of seven one-day players to Adelaide.

The seven players, who joined the rest in Adelaide, are Gautam Gambhir, Piyush Chawla, S Sreesanth, Rohit Sharma, Robin Uthappa, Praveen Kumar and Suresh Raina.

Harbhajan has been accused of making a racist remark to Australian player Andrew Symonds during the second Test in Sydney earlier this month.

Match Referee Mike Procter subsequently slapped a three-match ban on the Indian off-spinner.

Harbhajan, who entered the Federal Court through the front door, refused to comment on the appeal.

A decision on the outcome of the appeal may not be known until later this week, according to media reports here.

The fate of the forthcoming tri-series, also featuring Sri Lanka, might depend on the outcome of the hearing.

ICC appointed Justice John Hansen on Monday said that additional evidence, including transcript available from the stump microphone, would be taken into account.

The BCCI, however, opposed the move, fearing such evidence could be tampered and doctored.

BCCI has kept open its option of curtailing the tour, even if invites a fine, in case Harbhajan is not cleared of the racist slur.

India is scheduled to meet Australia in the first match of the tri-series on Sunday.

During the course of the hearing, Hansen will hear all witnesses who had appeared before Procter after the Sydney Test.

Tendulkar, who was batting with Harbhajan when the spat took place, acknowledged the waiting media but did not speak. He has admitted a brawl between Harbhajan and Symonds but vehemently denied Harbhajan racially abusing the Australian.

Ponting, Symonds, Clarke and Hayden entered the courtroom through a back car park and were not available for comments.

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Sings of amicable solution in Harbhajan hearing Agencies Posted online: Tuesday, January 29, 2008 at 0855 hrs IST Adelaide, January 29: All signs pointed towards an amicable solution to the hearing on Harbhajan Singh's appeal against a three-Test ban at the Federal Court on Tuesday morning. Master batsman Sachin Tendulkar came out of the hotel with Cricket Australia Chairman Craigh O'Connor in tow. Both then took a car for the Federal Court which was a clear signal that the hosts were now siding with the Indians in order to salvage the tour. Fifteen minutes before, Harbhajan had come out with Indian team's media manager MV Sridhar, appearing confident of holding his ground in the all-important hearing. Earlier in the day, the Indians made an announcement of their intent by asking its one-day players, present in Melbourne, to reach here and be together in this moment of crisis. Along with this move, other members of the one-day squad here, including captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni and his deputy Yuvraj Singh were also asked to stay put. The hearing began a little later than the appointed 11 am local time, with the Indians being represented by Harbhajan, Tendulkar and Sridhar while the Australians had Andrew Symonds, Michael Clarke, Matthew Hayden and Adam Gilchrist. Only at the cross-examination stage of the hearing, would the managers of the two sides, Sridhar and Steve Bernard, be allowed to join in the hearing. The day also saw the departure of Sourav Ganguly to home as well as the arrival of seven one-day players to Adelaide. The seven players, who joined the rest in Adelaide, are Gautam Gambhir, Piyush Chawla, S Sreesanth, Rohit Sharma, Robin Uthappa, Praveen Kumar and Suresh Raina. Harbhajan has been accused of making a racist remark to Australian player Andrew Symonds during the second Test in Sydney earlier this month. Match Referee Mike Procter subsequently slapped a three-match ban on the Indian off-spinner. Harbhajan, who entered the Federal Court through the front door, refused to comment on the appeal. A decision on the outcome of the appeal may not be known until later this week, according to media reports here. The fate of the forthcoming tri-series, also featuring Sri Lanka, might depend on the outcome of the hearing. ICC appointed Justice John Hansen on Monday said that additional evidence, including transcript available from the stump microphone, would be taken into account. The BCCI, however, opposed the move, fearing such evidence could be tampered and doctored. BCCI has kept open its option of curtailing the tour, even if invites a fine, in case Harbhajan is not cleared of the racist slur. India is scheduled to meet Australia in the first match of the tri-series on Sunday. During the course of the hearing, Hansen will hear all witnesses who had appeared before Procter after the Sydney Test. Tendulkar, who was batting with Harbhajan when the spat took place, acknowledged the waiting media but did not speak. He has admitted a brawl between Harbhajan and Symonds but vehemently denied Harbhajan racially abusing the Australian. Ponting, Symonds, Clarke and Hayden entered the courtroom through a back car park and were not available for comments.