India withdraw threat

Harbhajan Singh's ban sparked a week of uncertainty and speculation © Getty Images

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India's tour of Australia will go ahead as scheduled following a week of uncertainty and high-level negotiations after a controversial ban handed to spinner Harbhajan Singh.

Sharad Pawar, president of the Board of Control for Cricket in India and the man charged with sole official authority to instigate a halt to the tour, confirmed there is absolutely "no question" of it being called off.

The BCCI initially threatened to suspend the tour if a ban on Harbhajan for alleged racist abuse in an ill-tempered second Test in Sydney was not overturned by the International Cricket Council.

But the BCCI, while still vehemently denying the allegations against the 27-year-old spinner, has relaxed its stance on a boycott and Pawar confirmed the tour will continue irrespective of the result of the appeal.

"There's no question of a pull-out - the series will not be affected," Pawar said. "We are focused on fighting Harbhajan's case, but it all should be within the game."

Harbhajan was given a three-Test ban after match referee Mike Procter found he had directed a "monkey" insult at Australia's only black player, Andrew Symonds.

Harbhajan comes under scrutiny in the second Test

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The BCCI had earlier said India would continue with the tour pending the result of an appeal, but stressed at the time it was "an interim arrangement" and they would "review the tour and all other developments continuously".

This was interpreted as a threat to withdraw from the tour should the appeal not go Harbhajan's way, but Pawar now appears to have ruled that eventuality out and insisted they are now focused on preparing for the appeal.

"We have decided to give full support to Harbhajan, and we will provide all the legal help to fight it out," Pawar added.

"If that means we have to seek legal assistance from abroad, we will do that."

The India team remain united in their belief of Harbhajan's innocence and batsman Virender Sehwag is the latest player to speak out in support of the spinner.

The 29-year-old, who was not selected for the first two Tests, said he empathised with Harbhajan, having suffered a ban early in his career against South Africa for excessive appealing.

"I don't think he has done anything so bad to deserve such a bad punishment. He knows what to say and what not to say," Sehwag said.

Virender Sehwag expressed his sympathy for Harbhajan

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"Symonds has said in his interviews that he didn't really hear anything and he said he doesn't know what was said.

"I was very down (when I was banned). But all of us are behind Harbhajan just like that time when the team was behind me.

"Anil Kumble told us in the meeting that he is behind him and also that the BCCI would support us, so the team is happy."

Sehwag also insisted India will not back down if they are sledged in the third Test against Australia in Perth which starts on January 16.

He also gave the India selectors a timely reminder of his credentials with 73-ball century in a warm-up game against an ACT Invitational XI in Canberra.

"In the next Test, considering the circumstances, there might not be any chat but if they say something, we will also talk back," Sehwag added.

"The Australians are famous at sledging and if they start it, we will not be quiet.

"It is good that we have some youngsters who can give back what is hurled on them. They have the attitude and the confidence.

"I mean why should we take it lying down? That's how it should be, why should we be quiet?"