MELBOURNE: Match referee Mike Procter did not consider Sachin Tendulkar's evidence in the Harbhajan Singh racial row because he thought the champion batsman was not in a position to hear what his team-mate had uttered during the controversial Sydney Test, a newspaper report claimed on Friday.
Procter had ruled Harbhajan guilty of calling Australian all-rounder Andrew Symonds a "monkey" and banned the Indian
spinner for three Tests, a suspension which India are now appealing and will be heard on January 29 and 30 by New
Zealand High Court Judge John Hansen in Adelaide.
"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," 'Daily Telegraph' attributed
Procter as having written as reason to hold Harbhajan guilty.
"It was submitted to me by (the 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.
"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," Procter had ruled.
According to the newspaper, which quoted a leaked statement, Indians never took the defence in the hearing that
Harbhajan uttered a Hindi word which sounded like "monkey".
"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.
