Matthew Hayden has been reprimanded for calling Indian spinner Harbhajan Singh an "obnoxious little weed" in a radio interview.
Aussie opener warned over radio comments
Matthew Hayden has been reprimanded for calling Indian spinner Harbhajan Singh an "obnoxious little weed" in a radio interview.
The Australia opener was called to attend a disciplinary hearing in Melbourne on Wednesday following the interview, in which
Hayden also challenged teenage bowler Ishant Sharma to a fight.
The Indian cricket board reacted angrily to the remarks - and Cricket Australia moved quickly to quell the issue with the hastily convened hearing.
Hayden was found guilty by commissioner Ron Beazley of breaching the Cricket Australia code of conduct - specifically rule nine in which prohibits players from the "public denigration of other players against whom they have or will play".
Innocence
India's tour of Australia has been overshadowed by controversy and Hayden's comments seemed to add fuel to the fire ahead of the three-match final of the Commonwealth Bank Series - which sees the two rivals clash.
However Hayden is keen to put the incident behind him.
"I maintain my innocence," he said following the hearing.
"My intentions were never to denigrate cricket or anyone but the umpire has made his decision and in the spirit of our own code of behaviour and the great game of cricket I respect and accept the decision.
"We've got a trophy out there that, for the next few weeks, I'm obviously really keen with my team-mates to concentrate on."
The BCCI, who had complained to the CA, confirmed they would not be taken the matter further.
Secretary Niranjan Shah said: "The BCCI has taken all the necessary steps. The matter is now closed. The BCCI would not like to react to it."
