By Neena Bhandari, IANS
Sydney/Melbourne : In what might not sound like music to Indian fans, Matthew Hayden was Wednesday let off with just a mild reprimand from the Australian cricket board for his “obnoxious little weed” comment about Harbhajan Singh.
“Cricket Australia Code of Conduct Commission hearing has upheld a charge that Australian player Matthew Hayden has breached the CA Code of Behaviour Rule 9 relating to detrimental public comment,” a CA statement said.
Code of Conduct Commissioner Ron Beazley issued a reprimand to Hayden as penalty for the breach, added the statement that was released after a marathon hearing at CA’s offices in Melbourne.
The charge was made by CA CEO James Sutherland following Hayden’s comment about Harbhajan Singh during a Brisbane radio interview.
Hayden had made the remark against Harbhajan on a Brisbane radio station Tuesday.
Hayden was charged by CA chief James Sutherland after a meeting Wednesday under rule 9 of the CA Code of Behaviour which prohibits players from the ‘public denigration of other players against whom they have or will play’.
Hayden had told the radio station: “It’s been a bit of a long battle with Harbhajan. The first time I ever met him he was the same little obnoxious weed that he is now.”
The comments sparked off a fresh controversy in the ongoing series Down Under and after the team management brought it to CA’s notice, the board decided to charge Hayden.
Hayden escaped a one-match ban.