Harbhajan banned by ICC

Three-Test ban for spinner over racism incident

Last updated: 6th January 2008   Subscribe to RSS Feed

Harbhajan banned by ICC

Harbhajan: Banned

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India spinner Harbhajan Singh has been banned for three Tests for racially abusing Australian all-rounder Andrew Symonds.

The incident, during the second Test in Sydney, was reported to the match officials by Australian skipper Ricky Ponting.

ICC match referee Mike Procter upheld the charge after a hearing in Sydney on Sunday.

The charge related to an alleged 'monkey' comment from Harbhajan to Symonds while the Indian was batting during the third day of the Test.

Reasonable doubt

"I am satisfied beyond a reasonable doubt that Harbhajan Singh directed that word at Andrew Symonds and also that he meant it to offend on the basis of Symonds' race or ethnic origin," said Procter.

The offence falls under 3.3 of the ICC Code of Conduct which refers to players or team officials "using language or gestures that offends, insults, humiliates, intimidates, threatens, disparages or vilifies another person on the basis of that person's race, religion, gender, colour, descent, or national or ethnic origin".

Australia won the match by 122 runs to take a 2-0 lead in the four-match series.

Harbhajan will miss the final two matches of the series, with the third Test beginning in Perth on January 16.

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