Board backs team, says stay put in Sydney

New Delhi: The Indian cricket board has advised the team to remain in Sydney and not travel to Canberra for a practice match until it gets the three-Test ban on spinner Harbhajan Singh stayed, sources tell CNN-IBN.

The Indian team refused to travel to Canberra on Monday morning for a three-day game against Australian Cricketers' Territory Invitational XI, demanding that the Board for Control of Cricket in India (BCCI) resolve the controversy first.

BCCI chief Sharad Pawar, after an emergency meeting of the board in Mumbai, told CNN-IBN he had spoken to Indian captain Anil Kumble and advised the team to remain in Sydney till further advice. The BCCI, which wants a stay on the ban, will hold another meeting on Tuesday.

CNN-IBN has also learn that Sachin Tendulkar has sent a text message to Pawar, demanding clean chit for Harbhajan.

The BCCI has decided to appeal to the International Cricket Council (ICC) against the ban and fight the "false slur" cast on Harbhajhan.

"The BCCI is filing an appeal challenging match referee Mike Proctor's order on spinner Harbhajan Singh. Unfair allegation of racism against our Indian player is wholly unacceptable. The game of cricket is paramount but so too is the honour of India's cricket team and every Indian,” said a BCCI press statement.

"The BCCI is committed to protect the country's fair name. India's national commitment is against racism. Our national struggle is based on values which negate racism.

“The BCCI will fight this false and unfair slur cast on our player. BCCI will request the ICC and in its appeal to suspend the order against Harbhajan Singh till the disposal of the appeal," said the statement signed by Pawar.

Harbhajan has been banned for racially abusing Australian all-rounder Andrew Symonds during the second test in Sydney.

The hearing took place after the test ended on Sunday in which the hosts fought back to win by 122 runs and take a 2-0 lead in the four-match series. Harbhajan and Symonds, the only black player in the Australian team, had exchanged words shortly after the Indian reached his half-century on Friday.

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How the row began

Play had been delayed for several minutes while the umpires spoke to Harbhajan on the pitch, although match referee Mike Procter had said the umpires were not close enough to hear the exchange.

The ban starts with immediate effect but Harbhajan, who denies he racially abused Symonds, could be available for the third test in Perth from January 16 as the Indians plan to lodge an appeal.

The charge against the Indian spinner was laid by match umpires Mark Benson and Steve Bucknor following a complaint by Australia captain Ricky Ponting on Friday, prior to which Harbhajan was alleged to have made a "monkey" comment directed at Symonds, the statement said.

"I am satisfied beyond a reasonable doubt that Harbhajan Singh directed that word (monkey) at Andrew Symonds and also that he meant it to offend on the basis of Symonds's race or ethnic origin," match Procter said in a statement released by the ICC.

(With inputs from PTI and Reuters)