Hansen to hear Harbhajan case

Harbhajan Singh will have his appeal heard by Justice John Hansen

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Justice John Hansen, a New Zealand High Court judge, has been appointed to hear Harbhajan Singh’s appeal against his suspension.

India spinner Harbhajan was banned for three Tests after match referee Mike Procter found him guilty of racially abusing Australian Andrew Symonds during the ill-tempered second Test in Sydney last week.

Harbhajan was accused of calling Symonds a “monkey” while batting during India’s first innings, although he has always denied the charge and neither umpire heard the comments.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India postponed the tour after the ruling and, although they have since agreed to continue following Steve Bucknor’s removal as umpire for the third Test, they have not ruled out the possibility of pulling out of the tour - pending the outcome of Harbhajan’s appeal.

Chief executive Malcolm Speed insists the International Cricket Council will not be held to ransom by India’s demands, but the appeal hearing - provisionally scheduled for January 14 in Perth, the venue for the third Test, which starts three days later - threatens to be crucial to the fate of the four-match series.

Justice Hansen, New Zealand Cricket’s appointment on the ICC code of conduct commission, has the power to increase or decrease the length of the ban on Harbhajan, or change it is as he sees fit.

According to code of conduct regulations, Harbhajan can play until Hansen makes his ruling, which is final.