CricketIndia spinner Harbhajan Singh was banned for three test matches yesterday for racially abusing Australian all-rounder Andrew Symonds during the second test in Sydney.
"I am satisfied beyond a reasonable doubt that Harbhajan Singh directed that word (monkey) at Andrew Symonds and also that he meant it to offend on the basis of Symonds' race or ethnic origin," match referee Mike Procter said in a statement released by the International Cricket Council (ICC).
The charge was laid by match umpires Mark Benson and Steve Bucknor following a complaint by Australia captain Ricky Ponting on Friday, prior to which Harbhajan was alleged to have made a "monkey" comment directed at Symonds, the statement said.
The hearing took place after the test ended yesterday in which the hosts fought back to win by 122 runs and take a 2-0 lead in the four-match series.
Harbhajan and Symonds, the only black player in the Australian team, had exchanged words shortly after the Indian reached his half century on Friday. Play had been delayed for several minutes while the umpires spoke to Harbhajan on the pitch, although Procter had said the umpires were not close enough to hear the exchange.
The ban starts with immediate effect, but Harbhajan, who denies he racially abused Symonds, could be available for the third test in Perth from January 16th as the Indians plan to lodge an appeal.
"We'll appeal against the match referee's decision once we receive a communication from the ICC," the Indian board's vice-president Rajiv Shukla said. "Till the decision of the appeals commissioner is known, the ban on Harbhajan will obviously be stayed."
Shukla also dismissed talk that the team was considering pulling out of the rest of the tour. The incident has further fractured the relationship between the two teams which had soured during an acrimonious one-day series in India in October when players from both teams were involved in heated exchanges and Symonds was racially abused by the spectators.
Australia's feat in equalling their own record of 16 consecutive test wins was overshadowed by a bitter outburst from the Indians who accused the hosts of unsportsmanlike behaviour and called on the ICC to sack the two on-field umpires.
There were just eight minutes remaining in the day's play when Michael Clarke grabbed three wickets in five balls in the penultimate over as India were bundled out for 210. Clarke was Ponting's final throw of the dice, and the slow left-armer did the trick as the Indian tail crumbled.
Harbhajan is the first Indian cricketer to be banned for racism after the ICC vowed to take a tough stand following several incidents in a number of countries.
AUSTRALIA v INDIA
(Second Test, Sydney)
Overnight:India 532 (S Tendulkar 154 no, VVS Laxman 109, S Ganguly 67, Harbhajan 63, R Dravid 53; B Lee 5-119). Australia 463 (A Symonds 162 no, B Hogg 79, B Lee 59, R Ponting 55; A Kumble 4-106, RP Singh 4-124) and 282-4 (M Hayden 123, M Hussey 87 no).
Australia - Second Innings
M Hussey not out145
A Symonds c Dhoni b RP Singh61
A Gilchrist c Yuvraj b Kumble1
G Hogg c Dravid b Harbhajan 1
B Lee not out4
Extras (b3, lb8, w3, nb9)23
Total 7 wkts dec (107 overs) ... 401
Fall of wickets: 1-85, 2-90, 3-250, 4-250, 5-378, 6-393, 7-395.
Did not bat: M Johnson, S Clark.
Bowling: RP Singh 16-2-74-1, Sharma 14-2-59-0, Harbhajan 33-6-92-2, Kumble 40-3-148-4, Tendulkar 2-0-6-0, Yuvraj 2-0-11-0.
India -Second Innings
R Dravidc Gilchrist b Symonds38
W Jafferc Clarke b Lee0
VVS Laxmanlbw b Clark20
S Tendulkarb Clark12
S Gangulyc Clarke b Lee51
Yuvrajc Gilchrist b Symonds0
M Dhonilbw b Symonds35
A Kumblenot out45
Harbhajanc Hussey b Clarke7
RP Singhlbw b Clarke0
I Sharmac Hussey b Clarke0
Extras(nb2)2
Total(70.5 overs) ... 210
Fall of wickets:1-3, 2-34, 3-54, 4-115, 5-115, 6-137, 7-185, 8-210, 9-210.
Bowling:Lee 13-3-34-2, Johnson 11-4-33-0, Clark 12-4-32-2, Hogg 14-2-55-0, Symonds 19-5-51-3, Clarke 1.5-0-5-3.
Australia beat India by 122 runs
