Mastikhor
3rd March 2008, 02:42 PM
http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/media/images/44463000/jpg/_44463929_harb2_getty_203.jpg
India spinner Harbhajan Singh is under investigation after allegations that he made monkey gestures and spat at fans during their one-day win in Sydney.
Match referee Jeff Crowe is looking into complaints made during India's victory over Australia in the opening match of the tri-series final.
Harbhajan has been accused by at least one spectator of scratching his armpits and spitting after being heckled.
"[Harbhajan] did nothing," said India manager Bimal Soni.
"I do not believe them and strongly condemn them. I think it is wrong.
"Nothing has been done like that, they are making a mountain out of a molehill."
And former Australia captain Allan Border said he too is sceptical about the claims.
"I'm not too sure how serious it is," said Border.
"I was at the ground yesterday and I was on that side of the ground and Harbhajan was copping a fair bit of stick from the crowd.
"I didn't notice any gestures at all and I thought he handled himself quite well to be quite honest."
The allegations are the latest to affect India's controversial tour of Australia.
Harbhajan was initially banned for three Tests for allegedly calling Australia all-rounder Andrew Symonds a monkey during the second Test in January.
But at an appeal hearing it was decided there had not been enough evidence to convict him of racial abuse.
The International Cricket Council instead charged him with using abusive language. Harbhajan was fined and did not serve any ban.
Australia batsman Matthew Hayden was reprimanded on 27 February for describing Harbhajan as an "obnoxious weed".
In between times, India cricket chiefs have proposed a complete ban on sledging - the verbal abuse of players.
During India's lengthy tour of Australia there have been suggestions that India's players have been goaded into over-stepping the mark.
When young India bowler Ishant Sharma was fined on 25 February for an aggressive gesture directed at Symonds, Crowe said: "Sharma may have been provoked."
The International Cricket Council says its existing "code of conduct" - combined with the actions of on-field umpires - can help implement a "zero-tolerance" approach to sledging.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/cricket/7274327.stm
India spinner Harbhajan Singh is under investigation after allegations that he made monkey gestures and spat at fans during their one-day win in Sydney.
Match referee Jeff Crowe is looking into complaints made during India's victory over Australia in the opening match of the tri-series final.
Harbhajan has been accused by at least one spectator of scratching his armpits and spitting after being heckled.
"[Harbhajan] did nothing," said India manager Bimal Soni.
"I do not believe them and strongly condemn them. I think it is wrong.
"Nothing has been done like that, they are making a mountain out of a molehill."
And former Australia captain Allan Border said he too is sceptical about the claims.
"I'm not too sure how serious it is," said Border.
"I was at the ground yesterday and I was on that side of the ground and Harbhajan was copping a fair bit of stick from the crowd.
"I didn't notice any gestures at all and I thought he handled himself quite well to be quite honest."
The allegations are the latest to affect India's controversial tour of Australia.
Harbhajan was initially banned for three Tests for allegedly calling Australia all-rounder Andrew Symonds a monkey during the second Test in January.
But at an appeal hearing it was decided there had not been enough evidence to convict him of racial abuse.
The International Cricket Council instead charged him with using abusive language. Harbhajan was fined and did not serve any ban.
Australia batsman Matthew Hayden was reprimanded on 27 February for describing Harbhajan as an "obnoxious weed".
In between times, India cricket chiefs have proposed a complete ban on sledging - the verbal abuse of players.
During India's lengthy tour of Australia there have been suggestions that India's players have been goaded into over-stepping the mark.
When young India bowler Ishant Sharma was fined on 25 February for an aggressive gesture directed at Symonds, Crowe said: "Sharma may have been provoked."
The International Cricket Council says its existing "code of conduct" - combined with the actions of on-field umpires - can help implement a "zero-tolerance" approach to sledging.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/cricket/7274327.stm