India tour still under threat

The Board of Control for Cricket in India had announced they would suspend the tour pending the appeal against Harbhajan's three-Test ban for his alleged racist abuse towards Australia all-rounder Andrew Symonds.

However, on Tuesday the International Cricket Council announced umpire Steve Bucknor would be withdrawn from the third Test and charged Australia spinner Brad Hogg with using abusive language, which prompted the BCCI to release a statement confirming they would continue the tour, although they also indicated they would "review the tour and all other developments continuously".

The ICC have suspended Harbhajan's ban pending the appeal following the second Test in Sydney, which Australia won to take a 2-0 lead in the series and equal their own world record of winning 16 consecutive Tests.

However, such feats have taken a back seat to the latest controversy between the two nations and a BCCI statement released on Tuesday read: "The (working committee) of the BCCI took note of all relevant circumstances and developments and decided that the Indian team tour to Australia should continue for the present.

"The ICC has clarified to the board that Harbhajan could play until the final disposal of the appeal. This is only an interim arrangement. The BCCI is of the categorical view that the matter will have to be finally resolved and the unfair allegation against an Indian player be set aside or withdrawn.

"The working committee reiterated that the ban imposed on Harbhajan is totally unacceptable. It further authorised the president (Sharad Pawar) to take all possible steps at his command and deploy all human and material resources available to get the player cleared of the obnoxious and baseless accusation."

ICC chief executive Malcolm Speed confirmed Harbhajan will be eligible to play in the third Test while his appeal, against an allegation of calling Symonds a "monkey", is pending. Hogg has also been charged under the ICC code of conduct with making an offensive remark to India captain Anil Kumble and vice-captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni.

Speed also said that ICC chief referee Ranjan Madugalle will travel to Australia in an attempt to broker a peace between the captains and confirmed Bucknor would not stand in the third Test.

He said: "Ranjan is our chief referee and a highly respected figure within the game. He will remind the captains and other players of their responsibilities to conduct themselves in line with the spirit of cricket."