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ICC gives Harbhajan more time

05/01/2008

The International Cricket Council (ICC) has granted Indian spinner Harbhajan Singh an extra 24 hours to answer a misconduct charge.

Harbhajan is alleged to have racially abused Australian all-rounder Andrew Symonds during the third day's play of the second Test in Sydney.

The ICC usually tries to conduct disciplinary hearings within 36 hours of the incident occurring but match referee Mike Proctor has decided to wait until the end of the current Test match.

Harbhajan was previously due to appear in front of Proctor at the close of play on day four of the Test.

Instead Proctor issued a statement saying: "At the request of the India team manager and under the circumstances I have exercised my discretionary powers to postpone the code-of-conduct hearing until the conclusion of this Test match.

"I am satisfied that with a further 24 hours India will have time to sufficiently prepare for this hearing."

On-field umpires Mark Benson and Steve Bucknor notified Proctor of the incident after Australian captain Ricky Ponting complained to them during India's first innings.

Because the complaint was made by Ponting and was passed on to Proctor via the umpires, and not made the umpires themselves, the incident is less straightforward for the match official.

Proctor said he wants to come to the right decision in the case but admitted during a television interview that "lawyers could be involved".

Harbhajan is charged with a level three offence and the penalty if found guilty is a suspension of between two and four Test matches or eight one-day internationals.