By AAP
January 26th 2008 @ 7:20am
Tendulkar could not have heard Harbhajan insult
A leaked statement from match referee Mike Procter claims Indian batsman Sachin Tendulkar could not have heard whether team-mate Harbhajan Singh called Australian all-rounder Andrew Symonds a “monkey” during the controversial second Test in Sydney.
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Procter found Harbhajan guilty of using the racial taunt and banned the Indian spinner for three matches, a suspension which the tourists are now appealing.
India threatened to discontinue their Australian tour over the ban and Tendulkar reportedly sent a message to Indian cricket supremo Sharad Pawar proclaiming his team-mate’s innocence.
“It was submitted to me by (Indian team manager) that there was doubt because the umpires and other players did not hear the words but, in my judgement, they would not have been in a position to hear them,” News Ltd reported Procter as writing in his statement after the hearing.
“I note that Sachin Tendulkar only became involved when he realised that something was happening and was gestured over.
“He tried to calm things down because something had happened that he did not hear.
“Both umpires did not hear nor did Ricky Ponting or Sachin Tendulkar. I am satisfied and sure beyond reasonable doubt that Harbhajan Singh did say these words.”
The report said Procter also wrote that the defence that Harbhajan uttered a Hindi word which sounded like “monkey” was never used in the hearing.
“I am sure beyond reasonable doubt that the use of the word `monkey’ or `big monkey’ was said to insult or offend Andrew Symonds on the basis of his race, colour or ethnic origin,” the statement read.
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