Off-spinner Harbhajan Singh was on Sunday night banned for three Test matches after the ICC Match Referee Mike Procter upheld the Australian charge that he had racially abused their all-rounder Andrew Symonds, a decision against which the Indian team will appeal within 24 hours.
Embroiled in a race row with Australia's Andrew Symonds, Harbhajan Singh will appear before a disciplinary hearing in Sydney on Sunday amid indications that the controversial Indian off-spinner will escape a ban due to lack of evidence.
Last year's slapping row with S Sreesanth and the subsequent ban firmly behind him, feisty Indian off-spinner Harbhajan Singh says he is focused on making an impact in the Indian Premier League's second edition.
The former India coach has alleged an attempted cover-up by the BCCI after he was 'racially abused' at an airport in Orissa.
Australian photographer Hamish Blair's photograph of fans making monkey gestures during the seventh ODI between India and Australia at the Wankhede stadium smudged India's image in the cricketing world.
The two Aussie players allegedly incited the crowd during the seventh ODI in Mumbai on Wednesday.
Australia's stand-in captain acknowledged the world champions were comprehensively outplayed in the opening one-day international against South Africa.
Jacques Kallis continues to be IPL3's most valuable player, and there's a good chance that he might end up becoming IPL3's MVP, now that RCB seem assured of the semi-final berth.
T Suman's brisk half-century and three wickets from Ryan Harris saw Deccan Chargers outclass Chennai Super Kings by six wickets in the Indian Premier League in Nagpur, on Saturday. Suman top-scored with 55 from 44 balls and Andrew Symonds hit a quick to take Deccan to 139 for four in 19.1 overs after being a set a modest 139 for victory.
Images from the match between the Mumbai Indians and the Deccan Chargers played at the Brabourne Stadium on Saturday.
After former wicketkeeper Adam Gilchrist created quite a stir with his revelations about the infamous Sydney Test in his book, it is the turn of skipper Ricky Ponting to give his take on the racism row that shook world cricket.
Australia's Adam Gilchrist has replaced VVS Laxman as the captain of the Deccan Chargers in the Indian Premier League.
Content with the money he is making at the Indian Premier League, troubled Australian all-rounder Andrew Symonds says he has no desire to return to international cricket as he doesn't want to be tied down by rules and regulations again.
Far from being a controversy-ridden battle, Australian pace spearhead Brett Lee reckons his team's four-Test series against India would go down as a "hallmark of friendship" because players from both the sides have forgotten about past rows.
Unlike other franchises, which have roped in big hitting foreign players, Delhi have staked its title hopes on home-grown talent.
Relations between the Indian and Australian cricket team, at an all time low after the acrimonious series Down Under, could be mended during the Indian Premier League, which will start on April 18. Skipper Ricky Ponting, Andrew Symonds, Matthew Hayden and Brett Lee are among a large group of Australians spread across the eight franchises in the cash rich Indian Premier League and it is hoped that the Aussies could regain their lost popularity in India.
Former Australia vice-captain and wicketkeeper Ian Healy, looking back on the just-concluded tour, says this Indian era should produce some real masters of the game with bat, ball as well as all-rounder status.
India off-spinner Harbhajan Singh left Australia with a parting swipe to his critics and opponents by saying he would not tone down his on-field behaviour.
The off-spinner was alleged to have made monkey gestures towards the crowd during India's victory in the first tri-series final.
India's Harbhajan Singh on Tuesday came under a fresh attack by Australian cricketers with opener Matthew Hayden calling the off-spinner an "obnoxious little weed", a remark which has the potential to create more bad blood between the two teams.
Playing in his 124th Test, the 37-year-old became the first Indian and the third bowler overall to complete the feat.
Indian off-spinner Harbhajan Singh's appeal against the three-Test ban will come up for hearing on January 29-30 at Adelaide, according to an ICC spokesman.
India captain Anil Kumble hopes his tourists and Australia can put their controversial Sydney Test behind them when the two rivals meet again in the third match of the series at Perth next week.
Or would you rather just give them a taste of their own medicine?
"I spoke to Malcolm Speed this morning and asked him if there was any problem in Harbhajan Singh playing the next Test match at Perth and he said that there was none," BCCI chief Sharad Pawar said.
A defiant Australian skipper Ricky Ponting maintained that he did nothing wrong by reporting Harbhajan Singh for "racially abusing" Andrew Symonds and felt his Indian counterpart Anil Kumble has been unfair in his criticism of the host team's lack of sportsmanship.
Sachin Tendulkar has denied sending an SMS to BCCI chief Sharad Pawar requesting that the tour of Australia be suspended until the ICC lifts the ban on Harbhajan Singh.
The Indian team postponed its departure to Canberra to file an appeal against the three-Test ban slapped on Harbhajan Singh.
The Indian cricket team held a meeting at a hotel in Sydney on Monday morning to express solidarity with Harbhajan Singh, who has been slapped with a three-Test suspension for an alleged racial abuse against Australian all-rounder Andrew Symonds.
Michael Clarke and Michael Hussey scored centuries as Australia declared their first innings on 551 for 4 and then reduced Sri Lanka to 31-2 on the second day of the first Test in Brisbane on Friday. Clarke and Hussey, who resumed with Australia's total reading 242-3, were involved in a record partnership of 245 runs before Hussey was dismissed for 133.
Indian and Australian players exchanged verbal punches on field during the second ODI in Kochi.
Under heavy criticism for losing the one-day series against South Africa, Australia skipper Ricky Ponting on Tuesday said that his side was hit hard by a string of injuries which kept most of his key players out of action.
Captain Graeme Smith led South Africa to their triumph, smashing an unbeaten 89 from 61 deliveries to steer the host nation past Australia's impressive total of 179-8.
Australia fought back in their second innings after losing its top order cheaply to end Day 3 in the first Test against South Africa on 228 for 7, an overall lead of 322, at the WACCA, on Friday.
Mitchell Johnson claimed his maiden five-wicket haul as Australia beat New Zealand by 149 runs in the first Test at the Gabba in Brisbane on Sunday morning. Johnson finished with five wickets for 39 runs to claim his maiden five-wicket haul. His impressive match figures of 9 for 69 earned him the man-of-the-match award as the hosts took a 1-0 lead in the two-Test series.
"I am sick of all the bad-boy crap. I've no interest in hearing about how controversies follow me wherever I go," Harbhajan was qouted as saying by 'Herald Sun'.
Shane Warne crowned his international farewell with a brilliant half-century to put Australia in control of the final Ashes Test against England on Thursday.
Australia were struggling at 226 for seven after a rain-shortened first day of the third Test against West Indies on Thursday.
Monty Panesar captured five wickets on his Ashes debut to help England bowl out Australia for 244 on the opening day of the third Test.
Damien Martyn was named Test player for the year and Andrew Symonds the best one-day player.
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