CA blames ICC for failing to present Bhajji's past record

Melbourne, Jan 31 (UNI) Anguished over Harbhajan Singh's acquittal from racial abuse charges, Cricket Australia (CA) lamented that International Cricket Council (ICC) did not present the off-spinner's earlier record before the Appeals Commissioner.

''If you read the judgement, the judge said the penalty would have been different if he'd had some facts in front of him, so from that point of view it's disappointing. I'm disappointed, CA is disappointed and it seems the judge was disappointed as well,'' CA Chief Executive James Sutherland told mediapersons today.

Sutherland rued that Harbhajan would have received a much harsher penalty if ICC-appointed Appeals Commisioner was presented with all the facts.

''It's very unfortunate that human error led to Justice Hansen not having the full history of Harbhajan's previous Code of Conduct breaches and the ICC accepts the responsibility for this mistake,'' he said.

Harbhajan was accused of racially abusing Aussie all-rounder Andrew Symonds during the controversial Sydney Test. ICC Match Referee Mike Procter had imposed a three-Test ban on the off-spinner which was overturned by Justice John Hansen.

Sutherland however, added that the CA would not contest the decision.

''That's unfortunate but that's the way it is. The Indian spinner could count himself lucky he benefited from these database and human errors,'' he said.

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