Hayden remarks on Harbhajan angers Indians

Indians, including the media have reacted strongly to Australian opener Mathew Haydens remarks on Indian off spinner Harbhajan Singh.

Delhi/Jalandhar/Mumbai, Feb 28 : Indians, including the media have reacted strongly to Australian opener Mathew Hayden's remarks on Indian off spinner Harbhajan Singh.

The cricket fraternity is also upset and has demanded the International Cricket Council's (ICC) intervention in the matter.

"Sledging is ok on the ground, as it's a part of the game, but the Australians have crossed the limit by making comments in public. The ICC should take up the matter seriously," Lalit Verma, a cricket coach in Mumbai said.

Avtar Kaur, Harbhajan Singh mother, strongly condemned the Australian cricketers for their remarks against their Indian counterparts and has demanded that the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) should take a stand on it.

"This has become their habit, but they are never banned or even fined. They are only reprimanded. The BCCI should take stand on these issues," said Kaur.

The controversy erupted when Mathew Hayden launched a verbal attack on India's cricketers, describing Harbhajan Singh as an "obnoxious weed" and challenging Ishant Sharma to join him in a pit.

The Indian cricket board has said that as far as it is concerned, the matter stands closed after Cricket Australia's reprimand of Hayden on Wednesday night.

ANI