What about 'Monkeygate' verdict? Harbhajan Singh slams ICC for being lenient towards Australians

Harbhajan Singh on Sunday blasted the International Cricket Council (ICC) for being lenient while punishing Australia's Cameron Bancroft.

The ongoing third Test between Australia and South Africa in Cape Town has created a huge controversy, with Bancroft and skipper Steve Smith admitting to ball-tampering.

Harbhajan came down heavily on cricket's governing body for not imposing a ban on Bancroft. "Wow @ICC wow. Great treatment nd FairPlay. No ban for Bancroft with all the evidences whereas 6 of us were banned for excessive appealing in South Africa 2001 without any evidence and Remember Sydney 2008? Not found guilty and banned for 3 matches.different people different rules," Bhajji wrote on Twitter.

Here's his tweet

wow @ICC wow. Great treatment nd FairPlay. No ban for Bancroft with all the evidences whereas 6 of us were banned for excessive appealing in South Africa 2001 without any evidence and Remember Sydney 2008? Not found guilty and banned for 3 matches.different people different rules

— Harbhajan Turbanator (@harbhajan_singh) March 25, 2018

The first instance that Bhajji is referring to is the 2001 Test between India and South Africa in Port Elizabeth, in which Sachin Tendulkar was banned for one Test for ball-tampering. Not just Sachin, even Harbhajan, Sourav Ganguly, Virender Sehwag, Deep Dasgupta and Shiv Sunder Das were handed bans. While Sourav was banned for failing as a captain to control his players, the rest were charged for 'excessive appealing'. The verdict had led to a furore in India, with match referee Mike Denness being accused of gross incompetence.

Harbjahan's second example in the tweet, of course, is the famous 2008 Sydney Test between India and Australia. Despite no concrete evidence, the off-spinner was given a three-Test suspension for making racist remarks at Andrew Symonds. That Test was responsible for coining the term 'Monkeygate'.

Smith, Warner step down

Smith stepped down as Australia captain on Sunday and has been suspended for one Test by the ICC amid stunning ball-tampering revelations that have plunged the Test team into crisis.

Smith was also fined 100 percent of his match fee, while opening batsman Bancroft, who was caught on camera attempting to alter the condition of the ball, was handed three demerit points and a 75 percent fine of his match fee.

Bancroft, however, escaped a ban and is therefore free to play in the fourth Test starting in Johannesburg on Friday if selected. David Warner also resigned as vice-captain on Sunday amid shock and disappointment at the conduct of the team back home.

Cricket Australia said Smith and Warner had agreed to give up their leadership roles following "discussions" with the governing body, with wicketkeeper Tim Paine to take the reins for the remainder of the third test in Cape Town and mostly likely now the fourth.

"This Test match needs to proceed, and in the interim we will continue to investigate this matter with the urgency that it demands," CA CEO James Sutherland said in a statement. "Cricket Australia and Australian cricket fans expect certain standards of conduct from cricketers representing our country, and on this occasion these standards have not been met. All Australians, like us, want answers and we will keep you updated on our findings, as a matter of priority."

Smith and Warner's demotion came hours after Australia's Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull heaped pressure on CA to act swiftly and decisively. "I have to say that the whole nation which holds those who wear the 'baggy green' up on a pedestal about as high as you can get in Australia, certainly higher than any politician that's for sure, this is a shocking disappointment," Turnbull said.

Smith had admitted on Saturday that the ball-tampering carried out by Bancroft had been orchestrated by himself and senior players but although he was "embarrassed" by the scandal, he had no intention of stepping down as skipper. The series is currently poised at 1-1, though South Africa are in a strong position in the third Test having set Australia 430 to win.

(Inputs from Reuters)