CA expected to take action against Hayden

Agencies

Posted online: Wednesday, February 27, 2008 at 0903 hrs IST

Melbourne, February 27:
In an unusual advisory, Cricket Australia said on Wednesday that it will make a "significant announcement about a current Australian player", prompting speculation that it may take action against opening batsman Matthew Hayden, who had called Indian offspinner Harbhajan Singh an "obnoxious little weed" on Tuesday.

The announcement is expected around 11.30 am IST.

"Cricket Australia today advised that a significant announcement regarding a current Australian player will take place this afternoon at the MCG," a CA statement said.

Hayden, an active participant in the on-field bickerings that have marred India's current tour of Australia, on Tuesday launched a fresh verbal attack at Harbhajan by calling him an "obnoxious little weed" and also challenged young paceman Ishant Sharma to a boxing bout.

"It's been a bit of a long battle with Harbhajan, the first time I ever met him, he was the same little obnoxious weed that he is now," Hayden said on Brisbane radio.

Hayden said he had told Ishant to settle down and quipped he would like to meet the lanky paceman in a boxing ring.

"He is just young. I have said to him many times, you are 19, take it easy," Hayden said.

The BCCI reacted to the issue by saying that sledging was going "out of hand" and setting a bad example for young cricketers.

The Indian team management had also lodged a written complaint with the Match Referee about the provocative behaviour of the home team during their Sunday match and threatened to take a "befitting action" if Ricky Ponting and his men persisted with such behaviour.