Zeenews Bureau
Adelaide, Jan 28: The Gavaskar – Border Trophy might be over but the battle is far from over for Indian cricket team. Moments after Australia won the series 2-1, Team India management was ready chalking out plans for Harbhajan Singh’s hearing.
The hearing has already created furore when Justice Hansen, the appointed judge for case, called for extra evidence from ‘stump microphones,’ a demand not acceptable to BCCI.
The latest developments have not gone down well with BCCI President Sahard Pawar as he said, “The racial charge is not acceptable and if the charge is not removed the remaining tour will be called off.”
Pawar said, “We are with the team and would do anything to protect India’s and team’s interests.” BCCI President’s latest statement has put the whole tour in jeopardy.
BCCI’s main objection to the hearing is the use of new evidence. One of the officials from governing body said, “The evidence could be tampered, it could be doctored. We wouldn`t allow this so-called fresh evidence to surface after so many days.”
India Stumped
BCCI on the other hand was caught off-guard as Justice Hansen was supposed to hear the case only after Harbhajan Singh appealed against Mike Proctor’s decision. BCCI sources have categorically stated that remaining part of the tour will be called of if Harbhajan is not cleared of the charges, as the claim was ‘absurd.’
Harbhajan was found guilty of making racist remarks about all-rounder Andrew Symonds, Australia`s only black player, during the second test in Sydney earlier this month a charge BCCI said was ‘not acceptable.’
Board secretary Niranjan Shah was categorical when he said, “India would take any decision on the matter after the hearing, but this latest talk of using stump microphone was not acceptable.”
Strangely BCCI as perceived has not sent any counsel to assist Team India on the day of hearing.
Earlier, Harbhajan had denied the charges and Indian board (BCCI) lodged an appeal on his behalf.
Adjudicator
New Zealand High Court Judge John Hansen said he planned to review all the evidence from the initial hearing and may also consider some additional evidence unavailable to the match referee Mike Proctor at the original hearing.
"This will be a re-hearing with evidence given by all of the witnesses who gave evidence to the adjudicator Procter," Hansen said in a statement.
"There may also be some additional evidence such as the transcript and video available from the stump cam that was not available to Procter."
The BCCI briefly suspended its team`s tour of Australia and threatened to cancel the rest of the trip unless Harbhajan was cleared on appeal.
They later withdrew the threat and agreed to continue playing after the ICC made a number of concessions, including the sacking of West Indian umpire Steve Bucknor and allowing Harbhajan to play until his appeal had been heard.
