Cricket: Tendulkar's evidence crucial in Harbhajan case

ADELAIDE - Evidence given by Indian batsman Sachin Tendulkar was crucial to the success of spinner Harbhajan Singh's appeal against a three-test ban for racial abuse of Australian allrounder Andrew Symonds.

New Zealand High Court justice and International Cricket Council appeals commissioner John Hansen accepted Tendulkar's version of events including his view that Harbhajan did not call Symonds a "big monkey".

This was accepted above the versions given by Australian players, which was the major change from the original disciplinary hearing conducted by ICC match referee Mike Procter at the conclusion of the Sydney tests where the events occurred.

Justice Hansen, however, admitted a serious error in that he was not provided with a full list of Harbhajan's previous offences which may have altered the Indian's penalty.

Justice Hanson also denied he had come under any pressure to deliver a favourable verdict after threats from the Indian Cricket Board to abandon their tour of Australia and flatly dismissed speculation that a deal had been struck between legal counsel for the Australian and Indian players.

- AAP