The three test ban imposed on Indian cricketor was lifted in the appeal proceedings conducted by the judge from New zealand under the auspices of the ICC.
During the second test played between India and Australia at SCG, Sydney, amidst a high drama and controversies, the match referee Mike Proctor imposed a three test ban on Harbajan Singh, since his outburst against Andrew Symonds particularly the word ‘monkey’ was considered as a racial outburst against Andrew Symonds and accordingly a complaint was preferred by Ricky Ponting,the Australain captain and it was testified by Mathew Hayden.Mike proctor considering the outburst as a three level offence imposed a three test ban on Harbajan Singh, though there was no any other concrete material evidence against him.
BCCI had preferred an appeal to the ICC demanding the dropping of the racial charges and the three test ban against Harbajan.BCCI was strenuous in its demands that the racial charges against Harbajan should be dropped.
The New Zealand Judge who was to preside over the appeal proceedings had also considered taking up the recordings of microphone as additional evidence to substantiate the charges against Harbajan Singh, which was stoutly opposed by the BCCI, under Pawar.
Finally a compromise formula was evolved between the BCCI and the Australain Cricket board and accordingly the appeal was allowed in favour of Harbajan Singh, the racial charges against him was dropped and the outburst made by him was considered as a level 2 offence for which Harbajan’s match fee was reduced by 50 % .
BCCI , Harbajan Singh and his family was happy and felt justice was rendered and the truth conquered.According to Pawar the stand of BCCI was vindicated.
It should be noted that if racial charges against Harbajan was not dropped and his three match ban was not lifted, BCCI had actually proposed to cancel the programme of triangular contest and order for the return of the Indian cricket team to home.Since the appeal was allowed India stays there and play the triangular series with Australia and Srilanka.
A section of the Australian press blammed the Australain Cricket board as it had meekly submitted to the money power of BCCI.But one should not forget that the same Australian press heavily condemned the unsportsmanlike behaviour of the Australian team under Ponting & co during the Sydney test and even charged them as ‘rabid nationalism’ and taking one step forward Peter Roebuck called for the removal of Ricky Ponting as the captain of Australia.Therefore, taking the above circumstances into account we can reasonably presume that the outburst from Harbajan Singh was made only under extreme provocation from the Australian players especially Andrew Symonds and it was not a racial outburst made wantonly.