Harbhajan Singh is banned for 3 Test matches for making a racist remark in the defeat by Australia in Sydney. Earlier Steve Bucknor and Mark Benson made lots of bad decision. Now Bhajji received a three match ban after a Grade 3 charge of racially abusing Australian cricketer Andrew Symonds. It was claimed that Singh had used the same term (a “Monkey”) as that used by crowds in Vadodara, Nagpur and Mumbai to also abuse Symonds in India in 2007.
According to this article:
Harbhajan is the first player punished for a racist remark since South Africa’s Herschelle Gibbs was suspended for one Test, one limited overs international and a Twenty20 match 12 months ago after he was caught on a stump microphone talking about Pakistan fans.
Five years ago, Australia’s Darren Lehmann was suspended for five one-day matches after he was found guilty of shouting a “racially-motivated obscenity” after he was run out during a game against Sri Lanka.
{ 17 comments… read them below or add one }
Guys,
Let’s get the message out. Hit the Aussies where it hurts most. A lot of Aussie cricketers have huge endorsement deals in India. They should not be making money in this country. Send emails, blog, do whatever it takes to get the message out to the companies that have these deals with them to drop them. What happened in Sydney is not cricket and we should not be projecting these guys as role models.
I’m an Australian and I’ll say up front that if the umpires did not make mistakes in this test series it would have resulted in a draw. It is clear that some of the decisions were not only suspect but they were wrong! All Australians know this – it has been widly reported in our press.
However having said that, the role of the umpire has to be respected and all efforts should be afforded the game to improve the quality of the umpire’s decisions. One option might be a mechanism where a Capitan can can use one of a limited number of appeals to call for the video….?
India should not feel slighted by Australia as Australia has also been on the loosing side of bad decisions – in the recent Football (Soccer) World Cup Australia had a penalty awarded against it, when video was reviewed, it was given for some good acting – not a breach of the rules. That penalty goal knocked Australia out of the quater finals of the World Cup. Italy went on to win…
Hello BCCI.
It is high time you guys showed some guts. Just tell ICC in no uncertain terms that the team will pull out if the Sydney test is not considered as Null and Void and Harbhajan’s ban is not revoked. At some point show to the World that you people are concerned about the game more than the money your board makes.
I should encourage BCCI to fight for this and ask team to stay back in sydney or not go for the next match. This is the leason for Australian to show that we are not the people who can stay back for this kind of receisum. As leaving in Australia i know how the things are for everyone. i should say umpire should be Banned instead of Bhajii. We all should support Kumble for his hardwork and dedication towards team and INDIA.
BCCI,WHAT MATTERS YOU ? Money or Pride ? do you remember what inzamam and PCB did,in similar situation?
Dt.7.1.2008
Shame BCCI, rather than Rajiv Shukla announcing publicly that we will stay back and play in Australia for fear of loosing extra bucks, I feel we should have left our shoes in the circketers rooms as a gift for those who deserve them.
Our national pride has been hurt and cricket comes afterwards.
It is not the question of Harbhajan, it is a question of an Indian being treated unfairly and being subjected to injustice.
Maybe our BCCI officials are very weak kneed and have seen over and over again the film Lage Raho Munna Bhai. Everyone in BCCI is a glaring example of Munnabhai.BCcI is a bunch of munnabhais.
So much for our countrymen.Amen.
PS:we still suffer the trauma of British rule in the core of our hearts.
I am really shocked how come Indians in Australia can ignore such a big racist comment made by one the most popular newspaper MX on the front page. If “MONKEY” can be a racist comment for some on, then who gave liberty to MX to address banning of Harbhajan Singh with the word “TURBANATED”. Isn’t this a direct racist attack on someone’s religion? This cannot be go unnoticed. Additional the newspaper addresses Yuvraj Singh as a “Playboy”.
Is there anyway to send scanned copies of the newspaper to BCCI so that they can pin the Australian media for this shameful act.
Hi bhajji,
Keep it up Bhajji, we love our countrymate any thing wrong with our countries player its bad to us also. We will be with you and whole india and indian team will fight for you. I believe no drama should be entertained from here instead be more attacking then defensive. Be pride of being an Indian
Let him be banned. What if India doesn’t play the next match? What will they do then? I guess Bhajji’s ban will be suspended pending next hearing. I really want him to play the remaining two tests. By the way, some interesting cartoons have been published at http://www.myntra.com/shop/monkeybusiness. A fitting response to the bakwas happening around us.
THE WHOLE NATION PRAYS THAT FOR SOME MONENARY OR PERSONAL GAINS ,
THE PRIDE OF MY COUNTRY WILL NOT BE SOLD !!
CALL BACK THE TEAM …
ITS NOT CRICKET ANY WAY THOSE AUSTRALIANS ARE CLAIMING TO PLAY ???
JAI HIND !!
THE WHOLE NATION PRAYS , …FOR SOME MONETARY OR PERSONAL GAINS THE
PRIDE OF MY COUNTRY WILL “NOT BE SOLD ”
CALL BACK THE TEAM
ITS NOT CRICKETS ANY WAY , THOSE australians ARE CLAIMING TO PLAY ????
JAI HIND !!
THE WHOLE NATION PRAYS …….., FOR SOME MONETARY OR PERSONAL GAINS THE PRIDE AND PRESTIGE OF MY COUNTRY , WILL “NOT BE SOLD .”
CALL BACK THE TEAM!!
ITS NOT CRICKET ANYWAYS , THE australians ARE CLAIMING TO PLAY.
JAI HIND !!
hey guys…….
i agree with u Mahesh…..
and with you David Reynolds, u seems like a decent guy, Australia is a great team, but wud u like a arrogant captain insult your country… dude only u n ur country can stop this, come on lets play a fair game……
chak dey india………..
lets stop this ………………………
We all forget, that the umpires do not have the luxury that we have of constant instant replays from the television or from the large screen at the ground. The game of cricket has for a very long time relied on the human element in making descisions during the game. If you want the game to become robotic then remove the umpires and place cameras at either end. But remember that cameras to can not show everything.
The Sydney test was a hard fought contest between two great teams and I sincerely believe played in great spirit by both teams. Yes mistakes were made by the umpires, but also mistakes were made by the players during this great contest.
Racial abuse should not be tolerated in this great game. India has not been found guilty of racsim, a individual player has been accused and found guilty of rascism towards another player. In Australia if you a caught making racsist comments towards a player on the field you are ejected from the stadium. The bcci had this opportunity to do the same as we do here in Australia, and yet nothing was done to any member of the crowd during the one day series in Mumbai . How sad that the Bcci was in denial and did nothing to get the message across that Racsism will not be tolerated. Does this mean that as a Nation that Racsism is quite acceptable, how sad.
The term Turbanated used by parts of the Australian Media was a great compliment paid to the spin bowler Barjji, in that You have taken the Australian Captain out of the game so quickly; well done Barjji. The main thing to remember is that it is only a game.
The umpire did not hear the comment made by Harbhajan. The umpires were favouring Australia and it was unfair.
cricket should be played in a fair way and leave all the decisions to the umpires.
This media release is mocking but truthfully reflective of the culture that permeates Indian society from Politics to Sport. There are rules but if you feel you deserve respect regardless of your behaviour then they don’t apply to you!
MEDIA RELEASE
From the International Cricket Council
For immediate release (especially in India)
Malcolm Speed has this morning announced several changes to the playing conditions for the forthcoming 3rd test in Perth between Australia and India. These changes include:
* India must win.
* The umpires shall be nominated by the Indian team. It will be acceptable if reserve Indian players rotate as umpires.
* During the game all appeals shall be referred to the Indian management team and the Indian media contingent prior to any decision being made. (This includes where an Indian player may appear to the naked eye that they have been bowled.)
* When the Indian team is batting the boundary rope shall be moved inwards 20 metres.
* Australian bowlers shall bowl under arm.
* India must win.
* Any time Ricky Ponting is on the field he shall be restrained in a full length strait jacket and muzzled.
* Any Australian spin bowler must advise the batsman in advance what type of delivery is going to be bowled.
* At any time Andrew Symonds is on the field he must wear a gorilla suit and accept any sledging in the light hearted manner that this is intended.
* India must win.
* Harbhajan Singh will be cleared on appeal and be nominated for a Nobel Peace Prize.
* Indian batsman may be permitted to use larger bats.
* Australian batsmen may use a bat every fifth over.
* Australian fieldsman should praise every batting attempt by the Indians by saying “Good shot chaps.” Apart from this Australian players are not permitted to speak.
* During the lunch and tea break both teams shall get together and have a cup of tea.
* India must win.
The ICC and the BCCI hope that all Australians will understand these minor changes are intended in the best interest of the game.
The ICC would also like to announce that Steve Bucknor has been appointed as the ICC’s new cricketing ambassador to Kazakhstan. The ICC wishes Steve all the best in this important, newly created role.