Tour not in doubt - BCCI

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) had previously intimated they may bring their side home should the spinner's appeal be unsuccessful.

But BCCI spokesman Sharad Pawar was quoted in the Hindustan Times as saying: "There's no question of a pullout. The series will not be affected. We are focused on fighting Harbhajan's case, but it all should be within the game."

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

The BCCI on Tuesday confirmed they 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".

Many interpreted that 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.

The BCCI went into Harbhajan's original hearing at the Sydney Cricket Ground without a lawyer, but Pawar insisted the same would not happen at his appeal.

"We have decided to give full support to Harbhajan, and we will provide all the legal help to fight it out," he said. "If that means we have to seek legal assistance from abroad, we will do that."

Sachin Tendulkar, Harbhajan's batting partner at the time of the incident, could emerge as a key figure at the appeal.

The four-match series is set to resume at the WACA in Perth on Wednesday.