Sport | Cricket
Ponting takes a dig at Harbhajan over slapgate
Australian captain Ricky Ponting took a dig at Harbhajan Singh, saying the off-spinner has been "unmasked" by his attack on teammate Sreesanth.
- IANS
- Published: 23:37 May 10, 2008
Brisbane: Australian captain Ricky Ponting took a dig at Harbhajan Singh, saying the off-spinner has been "unmasked" by his attack on teammate Sreesanth.
"The [slapping] incident was him dealing with a guy that he has probably played 20 Tests with," Ponting was quoted as saying in The Herald Sun.
"After this latest issue in India, I think people should be making their own judgments about Harbhajan. He has again done something wrong."
Referring to earlier run-ins with Harbhajan, Ponting also said that every minor error was blown out of proportion.
Harbhajan slapped Kings XI Punjab pacer S. Sreesanth after his team Mumbai Indians lost in the Indian Premier League (IPL). Harbhajan was banned from playing in the IPL this season and the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is also conducting a separate inquiry into the incident.
'Slap on the wrist'
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Ponting insisted that he wants to look forward after the acrimonious series against India, but he remained incredulous at how Harbhajan got off with just a "slap on the wrist" even after being charged with racially abusing Andrew Symonds as a "monkey".
After allegedly making a racial slur against Symonds, Harbhajan was initially suspended for three Tests. But after India threatened to boycott its tour, the off-spinner was cleared and received a 50 per cent match-fee fine on a lesser charge.
"It certainly wasn't the outcome that we expected," Ponting said. Pressure was applied by the powerful BCCI and there were rumours that Cricket Australia was part of a deal to ensure Harbhajan walked free.
Reflecting on Australia's perceived bully-boy image during the summer, Ponting admits his team were not blameless. He said his team had several lapses of judgment.
"Most of us would put our hands up and say we made a few minor errors last year," Ponting conceded.
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