By IANS
Sydney : The Indian cricket team stayed put in Sydney and delayed its departure to Canberra in order to complete the paperwork regarding the appeal against the ban imposed on Harbhajan Singh.
The Indians also filed a complaint against Brad Hogg, who is alleged to have abused Indian captain Anil Kumble during the second Test at the Sydney Cricket Ground.
Indian cricket board vice president Rajiv Shukla confirmed that the Indians had lodged a complaint with the International Cricket Council Sunday night. There was also the appeal in Harbhajan’s case.
“The team management has lodged a complaint. Hogg used abusive language against Anil Kumble on the ground,” Shukla said.
Even as the controversy raged, the Indian team postponed its departure to Canberra.
The team stayed back in the hotel and it was unclear when they would leave for the Australian capital where the Indians are to play a two-day game against Australia Cricketers Territory (ACT) XI beginning Jan 10.
The Indian team had got into the bus to leave for the airport in the morning but after almost two hours they got off and went back to their rooms.
While not saying anything about the future course of the Tour, sources said the team management was in touch with the Board officials back in India.
The team could leave for Canberra Tuesday as the match begins only Thursday.
“There is a lot of paperwork required and we need to be proper in our appeal, hence we are delaying our departure to Sydney,” said media manager M.V. Sridhar, from the team hotel in Sydney.
Meanwhile, the entire Indian team had an informal meeting to express solidarity with Harbhajan, said Sridhar. Kumble also informed the Board how upset the team was.