Harbhajan eligible to play third Test, BCCI asks team to head for Canberra

The ICC had received an appeal by Indian ff spinner Harbhajan Singh against his ban, and technically laced him in a situation where he would be eligible to play for he third Test match at Perth.

New Delhi, Jan 8 : The ICC had received an appeal by Indian ff spinner Harbhajan Singh against his ban, and technically laced him in a situation where he would be eligible to play for he third Test match at Perth.

The ICC has appointed Ranjan Madugalle to facilitate the meeting etween Indian captain Anil Kumble and Australian captain Ricky onting.

Indian team manager Chetan Chauhan said that the BCCI welcomed he ICC's decision to remove Steve Bucknor from officiating in he series, and added that the BCCI's strong stance on the issue elped in getting one of their demand to be met early.

He also said that the BCCI was putting Harbhajan's case very trongly in front of the ICC and the removal of the ban would elp in lessening of the anger and frustration among the players.

An appeals commissioner would be appointed within the next 24 ours by the ICC to look into the case.

Meanwhile, the ICC have taken a U-turn on their decision to etain umpire Steve Bucknor for the third and fourth India-ustralia Tests to be played at Perth and Adelaide respectively.

ICC chief Malcolm Speed confirmed that Steve Bucknor has been emoved from officiating in the series against India. The BCCi as instructed the Indian team to head for Canberaa to play a wo-day fixture against Australian Combined Territories (ACT) XI.

New Zealand empanelled umpire Billy Bowden would replace Bucknor or the series. This was the first demand by the BCCI, which has een fulfilled, but the issue of Harbhajan Singh's ban still emains to be addressed.

ANI