Tendulkar likely to testify for Harbhajan in hearing
Jan 5th, 2008 by shan
Sachin Tendulkar, who was in the midst when the alleged racial spat between Harbhajan Singh and Andrew Symonds broke out is likely to testify in favour of the Indian off-spinner during the hearing scheduled with the ICC Match Referee in Sydney on Sunday.
Indians will be well-represented with skipper Anil Kumble, manager Chetan Chauhan and media manager M V Sridhar also likely to accompany Harbhajan.
The Australians, meanwhile, are likely to be represented by skipper Ricky Ponting accompanied by Andrew Symonds and Brett Lee among others.
As things stood this evening, Harbhajan Singh was unlikely to face any action on the charge of “racist remarks.”
Apparently, the two umpires Mark Benson and Steve Bucknor have confirmed that they reported the matter on the insistence of Ponting and that they themselves did not hear anything provocative.
It would mean one man’s word against the other and for want of evidence, Harbhajan is unlikely to cop a fine or punishment.
However, it remains to be seen whether anything offensive was recorded by the stump microphone, which will now become an instrument in bringing out the truth.
Former Indian skippers Ravi Shastri and Sunil Gavaskar, meanwhile, used strong words against the racial abuse charge against Harbhajan in their reactions on television.
Gavaskar believed that Australian skipper Ricky Ponting should have never raked up the issue as Harbhajan’s alleged remarks had not been heard by a third person.
“It’s one man’s word against the other and apparently can’t be proved,” commented Gavaskar, warning that it would open a Pandora’s box for the Australians.
“Teams from around the word could accuse Australia of something similar everytime they step on the to the field so such issues are best left un-pressed,” Gavaskar said on television.
“Whatever remains on the field must remain on the field is an old Australian saying,” said Gavaskar.
Shastri opined that the issue “had been blown out of proportions.”
“These things happen on a cricket field. But you can’t make everything into an issue,” remarked Shastri.