Hogg hit with charge

8 January 2008

Brad Hogg

Australia all-rounder Brad Hogg has been charged with making an offensive remark to India captain Anil Kumble and vice-captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni during the second Test in Sydney.

Hogg faces a ban of between two and four Tests after being charged with a Level 3 offence under the International Cricket Council’s code of conduct, which refers to abuse on the basis of a player’s “race, religion, gender, colour, descent, or national or ethnic origin”.

The action follows the three-Test ban handed to Harbhajan Singh after match referee Mike Procter found the spinner had racially abused Australia batsman Andrew Symonds in the same game.

The preliminary date for the hearing is set for January 14, in Perth, which is the venue for the third Test.

The ICC has their work cut out in diffusing the tension in a Test series characterised by rancour between the two teams.

World cricket’s governing body removed umpire Steve Bucknor from the Perth match following complaints from India about key decisions in Sydney.

Harbhajan was handed a three-Test suspension after being found guilty of calling Symonds “a monkey”, although the spinner is eligible to play while his appeal is pending.

The Indian authorities had put their team’s schedule on hold following Harbhajan’s ban but appear likely to continue playing at least until his hearing.