MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — Finally some good news for India's beleaguered cricket team: Their suspended player can play for now, and the umpire who made several key calls against them won't officiate their next test.
Harbhajan Singh was suspended for three test matches for allegedly calling Australian fielder Andrew Symonds a "monkey" during a match against Australia.
International Cricket Council president Malcolm Speed said Tuesday that a hearing into India's appeal of the ban will likely be held before the next test, which is scheduled from Jan. 16 in Perth.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India had suspended the tour pending the outcome of Harbhajan's appeal hearing. Players stayed in their hotel Monday night, and spent Tuesday playing volleyball with lifeguards at Sydney's famous Bondi Beach.
Speed said if the hearing was not held before the start of the Perth match, the spin bowler would be eligible to play in the third test.
Speed also said West Indies umpire Steve Bucknor will be replaced by New Zealand's Billy Bowden. India had demanded Bucknor's removal from the third test because the umpire made up to five questionable calls against them in the match they lost by 122 runs. |