Harbhajan's appeal [Merged]

[coffee_rules]

When I heard the transcripts, I couldn't fault the Aussies alone for getting upset at Harbhajan's actions. Also if somebody has misunderstood you, you would try to clear it right away. Harbhajan never tried to claim that he said 'Teri Maa Ki" in his conversations with Hayden or Symonds. He could have said something - "I said "Teri Maa Ki" and you got it wrong". The TMK defence is only when he got some time to think about how to defend his actions.

[Lurker]

It is quite strange to see an "abused" person, and in this case its Symmonds, actually repeat the abuse term, right in the middle of pitch, knowing that it will be picked by the stump microphones. Now, did he do that to simply make it look as though Bhajji abused him, or was he really offended by the term, we will never know.

Not strange at all Sriram. This is actually the way it happens in real life too. Most of us have landed in a situation where they have either abused someone else or were abused by other person. And the very first instinctive reaction is - Gaali nahin dena ka. MC/BC kyun bola? (Dont you dare abuse me, why did you use the MC/BC word). Not saying thats exactly what transpired in the middle but possibility? Yes surely.

Also if somebody has misunderstood you, you would try to clear it right away. Harbhajan never tried to claim that he said 'Teri Maa Ki" in his conversations with Hayden or Symonds. He could have said something - "I said "Teri Maa Ki" and you got it wrong". The TMK defence is only when he got some time to think about how to defend his actions.

CA is right on the money here. The transcripts dont absolve Harbhajan. If anything it shows Aussie players as reliable witnesses and Bhajji merely coming out sheepish. Had it not been for Sachin and his words I would be roasting Harbhajan Singh on hot coal right now. xxxx

[head coach]

Not strange at all Sriram. This is actually the way it happens in real life too. Most of us have landed in a situation where they have either abused someone else or were abused by other person. And the very first instinctive reaction is - Gaali nahin dena ka. MC/BC kyun bola? (Dont you dare abuse me, why did you use the MC/BC word). Not saying thats exactly what transpired in the middle but possibility? Yes surely. CA is right on the money here. The transcripts dont absolve Harbhajan. If anything it shows Aussie players as reliable witnesses and Bhajji merely coming out sheepish. Had it not been for Sachin and his words I would be roasting Harbhajan Singh on hot coal right now. xxxx

I feel sorry for Sachin. Sachin is one of the decent blokes in the team and he defended one of the worst behaved and arrogant cricketer India has ever produced. Thank you Sachin for your patience! :hatsoff:

[yoda]

The stump mic evidence is pretty damning. Harby needs to get his act under control. Another solution, he can be simply dropped.

[talksport]

How so?

If not for Harbhajan issue everybody will be talking about Umpires, Australian Cheating - bump balls and the pact with Indians, Bullying of Umpires and not but not least the dismal batting of Indians in 2nd innings.... Harbhajan issue has covered up the pressing cricketing issues and Sydney Farce.... More over it keeps Cricket in headlines in Australia now that they are playing victim and increases the populairty of a long tournament BCCI increased its points with masses in India and ICL is in corner columns.... Team India can claim to be a united unit... etc etc Everybody is a winner.... These days any news is popularity game- except from Pakistan where it is comic relief Pontings words to Benson cannot be overlooked , which proves beyond doubt Sydney is farce .

[Desi Cartman]

:boring: I am so over it now ... Cant wait for the 20-20

[Sachinism]

just saw the clip. was very impressed with harbhajan's australian accent.

:hysterical:

http://www.cricketnext.com/news/what-transpired-in-the-harbhajan-hearing/29293-13.html Manohar to Hayden: Did you hear Harbhajan call Symonds a big monkey? Hayden: I didn't hear him, but I heard Symonds say "Did you call me a monkey?" So Hayden didn't hear Harbhajan call Symonda a monkey. How can Proctor accept Hayden as a witness? So all of them heard Symonds ask this question.

proctor is a racist prick, gavaskar was right in pointing it out @MM - you're just taking symonds word i'd trust bhaji over any aussie

[DesiChap]

HOW THE DAY UNFOLDED IN ADELAIDE Harbhajan Singh in Adelaide on Tuesday. (Reuters) (Local timings) 8.00 am: Former Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) president Inderjit Singh Bindra convenes a meeting in his room at the Hyatt. Sachin Tendulkar, ODI captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni and Harbhajan Singh are among those present. 8.30-9.00 am: Calls between Bindra’s room and the BCCI’s HQ in Mumbai. Apparently, president Sharad Pawar also telephoned. Assurance again given on the Harbhajan issue. 9.50 am: Cricket Australia (CA) chairman Creagh ’Connor reaches the Hyatt hotel, looks hassled. Says “everything will be sorted out.” 9.55 am: ’Connor and Bindra meet on the hotel’s 21st floor, where the Regency Club is located. Both seen on the phone. 10.35 am: Most of the Test specialists, including Sourav Ganguly, leave for the airport. 10.45 am: Harbhajan and assistant manager Dr M.V. Sridhar prepare to leave for the Federal Court, which isn’t far from the Hyatt. 10.48 am: Sachin comes down to join Harbhajan and Dr Sridhar. 10.50 am: Sachin is called by Bindra and he heads for the Regency Club. 10.57 am: Sachin, Bindra and ’Connor emerge from the Regency Club and head for the elevator. All are smiling. 10.59 am: Bindra and ’Connor shake hands in the lobby and the CA chairman offers to drop Sachin at the Federal Court. Sachin accepts the offer. 11.00-11.05 am: Appeals commissioner Justice John Hansen begins proceedings in the fifth-floor courtroom. 11.05-11.10 am: Justice Hansen receives a “statement of facts” jointly signed by Sachin, Harbhajan, Ricky Ponting, Adam Gilchrist, Matthew Hayden, Andrew Symonds and Michael Clarke. There’s a plea that the charge against Harbhajan be considered as a Level 2.8 offence of the Code of Conduct and not 3.3. The “statement of facts” is handed over by John Jordan, who is assisting Justice Hansen. 11.05-11.10 am: Four Australians — Ponting, Hayden, Symonds and Clarke — arrive and Justice Hansen starts by asking them to depose. 12 noon: Ponting leaves. 12 noon: Back at the Hyatt, the ODI specialists, who’d been in Melbourne after arriving from India, check-in. 12 noon to 1.00 pm: The remaining Australians and Sachin conclude their deposition before Justice Hansen. 1.00 to 2.00 pm: Lunch break. 2.05 to 2.35 pm: Harbhajan’s deposition. 2.40 to 4.40 pm: Justice Hansen wraps up proceedings and informs Harbhajan of his decision. The offie is relieved. So too the BCCI and CA. 6.35 pm: Test captain Anil Kumble and Dr Sridhar address a media conference at the Hyatt. Both read out statements. OUR SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT IN ADELAIDE http://www.telegraphindia.com/1080130/jsp/sports/story_8841892.jsp

[DesiChap]

Dilip wants action against Procter Dilip Vengsarkar New Delhi: BCCI president Sharad Pawar on Tuesday described as “proper” the judgement given by ICC appeals commissioner John Hansen, who decided to drop the racial charges against Harbhajan Singh and three-Test ban on the offie. “The judge has given a proper judgement. BCCI was consistently taking only one stand that it was practically impossible for us to accept the racist charges against any Indian player. And the honourable judge has accepted BCCI’s view…” Pawar told reporters. Pawar praised V.R. Manohar, the BCCI-appointed lawyer for Harbhajan during the hearing. “I thank Mr Manohar. He has done well. He did not even charge us any fee and worked on a honorary basis and worked for the player’s cause,” Pawar said. Manohar, who took part in the hearing via a tele-conference, said it was proved that Harbhajan did not say anything racial. “Racial remark is a very big crime. He (Harbhajan) has been acquitted from that and now has been charged for another type of abuse,” Manohar said. “He himself admitted that he abused Symonds but said he did not call Symonds a ‘monkey’ or a ‘big monkey’. The court did not accept (Symonds’ claim),” he added. While welcoming the outcome of the hearing, chief selector Dilip Vengsarkar demanded action against Match Referee Mike Procter. “The racist tag has been removed and it is a good thing for us. Full marks to BCCI for standing behind Harbhajan,” he told a news channel. “Procter has not done his duty properly. I would like to know what action is being taken against him,” he said. “Indians are not the first to sledge their opponents but again we would not take anything lying down. It’s very clear in the message,” he said. (Agencies) TURN OF EVENTS Jan. 4: Harbhajan Singh is charged under Level 3 of the ICC Code of Conduct following an alleged “monkey” comment directed at Andrew Symonds. Jan. 5: India deny racist abuse as the hearing is deferred till the end of the second Test. Jan. 6: Match referee Mike Procter upholds the Australians’ complaint and bans Harbhajan for three Tests. Jan. 7: The Board appeals the ban. The ICC says an appeals commissioner will be appointed to hear the case. Jan. 8: The BCCI working committee meeting in New Delhi decides to continue with the tour but says it will carry on its battle to clear Harbhajan. Jan. 9: ICC appoints Justice John Hansen to hear the appeal of Harbhajan. Jan. 10: Players want Harbhajan issue settled before Perth Test, even as Hansen is yet to fix a date for the hearing. Jan. 11: BCCI chief Sharad Pawar says the threat of India pulling out of the tour was real if the ban on Harbhajan was not lifted Jan. 14: Captain Anil Kumble and the BCCI withdraw the charge against Brad Hogg. The left-arm spinner admitted calling Kumble and Mahendra Singh Dhoni a b****** in the SCG Test. Jan. 22: Former BCCI president Inderjit Singh Bindra arrives in Adelaide to engage himself in behind-the-scenes “negotiations” with the CA chairman, Creagh ’Connor. Jan. 28: The ICC asks Channel 9 for the stump microphone transcripts. Jan. 29: The ICC clears Harbhajan of racial abuse. The 3-Test ban is lifted and he’s fined 50 per cent of his match fee. http://www.telegraphindia.com/1080130/jsp/sports/story_8841166.jsp

[Dravid]

i heard mics picked up bhajji saying it?? is it true?

[Guest HariSampath]

Bhajji had said "tmk " plus "when you come to India next they will feed you bananas"

[Mandrake]

Now, why would Bhajji fall silent had he really not uttered those words " Big Monkey" ? Besides, I really dont see why 4 of the Australian players would simply cook up charges to get Bhajji into trouble. My assessment of this thing is, Bhajji did say the word " Big Monkey", but has been let off because of lack of evidence, as simple as that.

Ponting,Clarke and Hayden are role models on the field, eh? Yes,Bhajji is no saint and in my opinion should have been punished had it been proved that he was in the wrong. No evidence points to that so everything is mere speculation now. So Bhajji got fined for abuse.....why on earth Punter and his filthy mouthed team mates were spared?? These blokes routinely abuse all and sundry on the cricket field.Mental disintegration...isn't that the term when they do it? What Bhajji was fined for is the same thing. So next time any of the Aussies sledge are they going to be charged or not?? Hell no they won't....bunch of sissies who run to their masters when the heat in the kitchen gets too much to their liking. What goes around comes around.

[coffee_rules]

Bhajji had said "tmk " plus "when you come to India next they will feed you bananas"

Then he has been let off. He has got to be careful. Racist remarks are not a joke. Even said under provocation, it doesn't bode well on the victim.

[Desi Cartman]

I just saw the report on fox. There are few things which make this weird 1. Nothing at all for what bhajji said .. no evidence for anything 2. Hayden getting close to the stumps and made sure he clarified that its racist 3. A verbal confirmation that there was a witness 4. No body got pissed off at all I still beleive that bhajji is an idiot but it does seem fishy to me.

[Lurker]

If not for Harbhajan issue everybody will be talking about Umpires' date= Australian Cheating - bump balls and the pact with Indians, Bullying of Umpires and not but not least the dismal batting of Indians in 2nd innings....

That has already happened. It is just that jingoistic Indian fans refuse to see it that way. Australian greats, of cricket and non-cricket sports, have come down heavily on Australian team. The behaviour for Ponting(and his team) had been widely criticized. Umpiring has been ridiculed in every possible media that I have seen so I am not even sure what are you complaining about here.

More over it keeps Cricket in headlines in Australia now that they are playing victim and increases the populairty of a long tournament. BCCI increased its points with masses in India and ICL is in corner columns....

Cricket has always been popular in Australia. Why do you think they are number 1 for so long? Apart from India, Australia is the only country where I have seen crowd flock to watch games in any format. If your allegation is that the Aussie players did the allegation to "spice" up the contest then thats ridiculous. By the same token Sreesanth and Harbhajan Singh were spicing up the contest when the Aussies toured India? Lets keep things simple and forget all this conspiracy theories. xxx

[koksmayu]

What Harbhajan actually say to symond What did Harbhajan Singh tell Australian all-rounder Andrew Symonds to provoke the charge of racial abuse against the Indian and create a furor in world cricket? The recordings from the stump microphone, which were produced before the Appeals Commissioner Justice John Hansen who cleared Harbhajan of the racial abuse but found him guilty of using offensive language, reveal the following exchanges: Symonds to Harbhajan at the end of an over: "Go and yell at your teammates...You called me monkey again." Australian opener Matthew Hayden interjects: "You have got a witness now champ", obviously addressing Symonds. Apparently turning to Harbhajan, Hayden is heard saying, "That is the last time". Harbhajan: "No, listen, he started it." Hayden: "Doesn't matter mate, it is racial vilification mate. It is a s*** word and you know it". These exchanges took place on January 4, the third day of the Sydney Test and the Australians filed a complaint against Harbhajan.

[Zap_Brannigan]

Normally i wouldn't be happy with the way BCCI handled it.....If bhajji did say it then he should be punished and we should have continued with the series. Having said that, this is double standards. If aussies can get away with sledging esp using bas****(which btw has a more serious negative connotation compared to monkey or even nigger in India) then its ok by me. They have also gotten away with bump ball catches, excessive appeals,intimidation of umpires,slow over rates etc for far too long. Till ICC gets its act cleaned up and treats everyone the same, I support BCCI in whatever immoral actions it has to take inorder to support the team.If BCCI says that the only way they will play is if Powar is made president (even if it may kill cricket), i will support them.

[arkay]

In my opinion, Harbhajan is quite capable of saying this slur. However in this situation, sachin tendulkar has vouched that he did not utter the word. He has put his head up to let the board know about what has been said. Enough said. I trust Sachin than the likes of Symonds , Hayden & Clarke.

[fineleg]

Normally i wouldn't be happy with the way BCCI handled it.....If bhajji did say it then he should be punished and we should have continued with the series. Having said that' date=' this is double standards. [b']If aussies can get away with sledging esp using bas****(which btw has a more serious negative connotation compared to monkey or even nigger in India) then its ok by me. They have also gotten away with bump ball catches, excessive appeals,intimidation of umpires,slow over rates etc for far too long. Till ICC gets its act cleaned up and treats everyone the same, I support BCCI in whatever immoral actions it has to take inorder to support the team.If BCCI says that the only way they will play is if Powar is made president (even if it may kill cricket), i will support them.

Agreed :two_thumbs_up:

[Pancho]

Till ICC gets its act cleaned up and treats everyone the same' date= I support BCCI in whatever immoral actions it has to take inorder to support the team

see, this made me laugh. its the BCCI who are abusing their standing off the field. they know they have a higher 'pull' and that they can use it to their advantage. for example, the removal of bucknor. or the stance that unless harbhajan is cleared, we will not play the one dayers. a stance taken BEFORE the hearing. that is blackmail. so unless the BCCI starts to fall into place with the other cricket boards and look at everybody else as an 'equal', there wont be any eveness.