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A timeline of the racism row

A timeline of the racism row involving Harbhajan Singh

Cricinfo staff
25-Jan-2008
January 4
Harbhajan Singh is charged with a Level III offence under the ICC Code of Conduct following his on-field altercation with Andrew Symonds on day three of the second Test in Sydney. Harbhajan is summoned to a hearing with match referee Mike Procter for "using language or gestures that offends, insults, humiliates, intimidates, threatens, disparages or vilifies another person on the basis of that person's race, religion, gender, colour, descent, or national or ethic origin".
January 5
Harbhajan's hearing is deferred from January 5 till the conclusion of the Sydney Test.
January 6
Harbhajan Singh is found guilty of making a racist comment to Andrew Symonds on the third day of the Sydney Test and handed a three-Test ban.
January 7
The Indian team rallies around Harbhajan and does not leave for Canberra - as earlier scheduled - until it receives further instructions from the Indian board. Meanwhile, an appeal is filed with the ICC against the ban.
James Sutherland, the Cricket Australia chief executive, brushes off rumours that the tour might be called off.
Mike Procter defends his decision - which raises a huge outrage in India - and says that the previous day had been one of the most difficult days of his life.
January 8
The Indian board says the tour would continue "for the present".
January 9
New Zealand judge John Hansen is appointed commissioner for Harbhajan Singh's appeal.
January 10
The Indian team manager Chetan Chauhan says Andrew Symonds broke a pact when he instigated a confrontation with Harbhajan Singh during the Sydney Test.
Malcolm Speed, the ICC chief executive, insists the body will not bow to India's demands on the Harbhajan Singh issue.
January 12
BCCI president Sharad Pawar says there is no possibility India will pull out of their tour of Australia.
January 14
The ICC announces that Harbhajan Singh's appeal over his three-Test ban will be heard in Adelaide on January 29 and 30, which leaves him free to play the last two Tests against Australia.
Meanwhile, India drop their charge of abuse against Brad Hogg, Australia's chinaman bowler.
January 25
A leaked copy of his report reveals Procter relied on the evidence of three Australian players - Andrew Symonds, Michael Clarke and Matthew Hayden - in reaching his decision.
January 28
Justice John Hansen, the judge scheduled to hear Harbhajan's appeal, suggests that new evidence in the shape of recordings from the stump microphone could be used. However, the BCCI protest that introducing new evidence at this stage was not a normal court practice.
January 29
The racism charge against Harbhajan Singh is dropped and the three-Test ban lifted after an appeal hearing in Adelaide.The charge against the offspinner is reduced from Level 3.3 to Level 2.8, under which he is fined 50% of his match fees.