Procter in the middle

Mike Procter © Getty Images

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Match referee Mike Procter has defended his decision to ban Harbhajan Singh after the India spinner was found guilty of racially abusing Australia’s Andrew Symonds.

Harbhajan was alleged to have called Symonds – the only non-white player in the Australia team – a “monkey” during India’s ill-tempered second Test defeat in Sydney.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India have subsequently halted the tour and lodged a formal appeal against the three-Test suspension imposed on the 27-year-old.

But Procter, who claimed he was satisfied beyond reasonable doubt that the word directed at Symonds was “meant to offend on the basis of Symonds' race or ethnic origin”, maintains that the offence breached level three of the International Cricket Council’s code of conduct.

“I am South African, and I understand the word 'racism',” Procter said. “I have lived with it for much of my life and this was not a case of just taking the word of an Australian over an Indian.

“People are entitled to appeals and the hearing was not heated at all; it was very sound, and it took a lot of time.

“I stand by my decision and I believe the process was a fair one.”

Andrew Symonds is surprised by the fall-out © Getty Images

The 61-year-old also confirmed he wants to carry on in his role as match referee for the third Test in Perth on January 16 and the fourth in Adelaide the following week.

“It is my intention to carry on for the rest of the series,” Procter continued.

“I don't have a problem with India and I have always had a good rapport with Indian players.

“This has been one of the most difficult days of my life – I didn't get to sleep until 11am, and then only for a couple of hours.”

Meanwhile, Symonds explained in detail how an altercation between Australia bowler Brett Lee and Harbhajan had led to the incident.

“This is what happened before our confrontation,” Symonds said.

“Brett Lee had just sent down a delivery and Harbhajan took off down the wicket.

“When he was returning to his crease, he decided to hit Brett on the backside. I have no idea why he did it.

“I was standing nearby and when I saw what happened, I thought, 'Hold on, that's not on'.

"I'm a firm believer in sticking up for your team-mate so I stepped in and had a bit of a crack at Harbhajan, telling him exactly what I thought of his antics.

“He then had a shot back, which brings us to the situation we're facing.”

Symonds admitted he was left stunned by the incident. “I must admit the incident was pretty surprising, because relations between the two sides so far have been very good,” he added.

“It's been a series played in really good spirit. There's been no sledging or bad blood.”