Harbhajan hearing postponed until match-end

Harbhajan Singh received a 24-hour break from ICC match referee Mike Procter for his Code of Conduct hearing, which will now take place after the ongoing second India-Australia Test ends at the Sydney Cricket Ground here on Sunday. In a statement released through the International Cricket Council, Procter said: “At the request of the India team manager and under the circumstances I have exercised my discretionary powers to postpone the code of conduct hearing until the conclusion of this Test match. I am satisfied that with a further 24 hours India will have time to sufficiently prepare for this hearing.”

Harbhajan was charged on Friday under Level 3 of the ICC’s Code of Conduct following an alleged incident that took place during the second Test between him and Andrew Symonds. The two clashed Australia’s tour of India late last year. The bowler, quoted in the local media, however dismissed suggestions there was a racial element to his comments. “I did not say anything racist. I do not know what is going on,” he said. “I haven’t done anything, we were just talking. It wasn’t even sledging, it was just normal talk out on the cricket field. I was concentrating on my batting.

“I am here to play well for my country, to bowl well and to win this match. This is an important game and we have a chance to win, that’s what I’m focused on.” The charge was laid by match umpires Mark Benson and Steve Bucknor after the close of play on Day Three of the match following a complaint received from the Australia captain Ricky Ponting after the 116th over of the Indian innings.

The alleged 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”. If found guilty, Harbhajan could face a ban of between two and four Tests or between four and eight ODIs.

Said Procter on the Nine Network.on Saturday morning: “They (Benson and Bucknor) reported to me the breach of conduct reported to them by Ponting. I informed both parties that there will be a hearing. It’s a Level 3 which is pretty serious and the hearing has to be within 36 hours. “The umpires didn’t hear anything, they didn’t know anything about it.”