By IANS
Sydney : Bastard, the term for which Brad Hogg will face a hearing in Perth, was not among the words listed by the teams as racially offensive before the Australia-India series.
Under the International Cricket Council’s (ICC) anti-racism code, the touring team is asked to advise the match referee, in this case Mike Procter, of terms regarded as offensive in its culture, so that ground managers can also be advised of what words should be prohibited among spectators.
Hogg was reported by Indian team manager Chetan Chauhan for saying to Indian captain Anil Kumble and vice-captain Mahendra Dhoni that he was “looking forward to running through you bastards”. The Aussie spinner will face Procter at a hearing expected Monday evening.
The Indians will argue that the term is insulting because it questions a person’s descent, a highly sensitive topic in Indian culture. But India reportedly did not nominate “bastard” as an offensive label before the series.
By contrast, monkey – the word Harbhajan is alleged to have directed at Australia’s only coloured player, Andrew Symonds, was identified as off-limits after the Indian spinner allegedly transgressed during October’s one-day series in India.
Hogg faces a ban of between two and four Tests unless his defence can successfully have the charge downgraded to a level-one offence, or the Australians can get it dropped. He will argue he did not intend to insult India’s players.
However, the allegation has been made in a highly charged atmosphere, with the Indians still threatening to withdraw from the tour if Harbhajan’s three-match ban is not overturned.