Cricket: Harbhajan cleared of racial abuse

The International Cricket Council has cleared Indian spinner Harbhajan Singh of racial abuse.

Harbhajan was originally suspended for three matches after being found guilty of racially abusing Australian all-rounder Andrew Symonds during the second test at the SCG. The Indian Cricket Board said the more serious charge, of racial abuse, had been downgraded to the lesser charge of using abusive language at yesterday's appeal. He has been fined 50 per cent of his match fee.

BCCI board secretary Niranjan Shah said: "The racial abuse charges have been dropped. It is finished. The punishment is only for using obscene language."

The decision means threats by the BCCI to cancel the rest of the Indian tour of Australia will no longer threaten the ODI tri-series involving Sri Lanka and the hosts.

The ICC appeals commissioner, New Zealander Justice John Hansen, heard the appeal from Harbhajan and Indian hierarchy against the spinner's ban for allegedly calling Symonds a "monkey" at the SCG. Justice Hansen heard about five hours of evidence from Harbhajan, Sachin Tendulkar, Symonds and Australian captain Ricky Ponting.