IANS
SYDNEY, Jan 9: The Indian cricket team may lose public sympathy by holding the tour to ransom in its bid to clear off-spinner Harbhajan Singh of racism charges and get rid of umpire Steve Bucknor, says eminent cricket writer Peter Roebuck.
"By no means can the Indians escape censure for the unpleasantness that took place in cricket's dark hour at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG). By sulking in hotel rooms the tourists stand in danger of losing public sympathy. Of course vociferous fanatics will remain loyal but only fools play to that gallery," Roebuck wrote in his column in The Age.
The former Somerset captain went on to add that India has the right to appeal against the three-Test ban imposed on Harbhajan, on charges of making alleged racist comments against Australian all rounder Andrew Symonds during the second Test match at the SCG, but it was hardly proper for the entire tour to shudder to a halt in the meantime.
"The players should have continued with an admittedly idiotic itinerary. After all, (Anil) Kumble's comments were made in the long-term interests of the game. Imperilling matches hardly serves that purpose," wrote Roebuck.
Roebuck was referring to Kumble comment 'only one team was playing to the spirit of the game', which was a swipe at Australian captain Ricky Ponting's claim that the Sydney Test was played to the 'spirit of the game'.
"His (Kumble) words were carefully chosen and given an historical context. For only the second time in 130 years of Test cricket, a team was accused publicly of unsporting conduct by a respected captain of undisputed integrity and widespread popularity," said Roebuck.
"Beyond question, Kumble's words will have a lasting effect on the way the game is played. Everything must be seen in that light," he added.
Roebuck also said that by staying the appeal on Harbhajan's three-Test ban, Indians appear to be putting pressure on those that must decide the matter.
"India has lots of power and money and ought to use it judiciously," he said.
Roebuck's critical comments against India come just days after he lambasted Australian captain Ricky Punting for leading his team in an unsporting way against the Indians in the second Test match in Sydney. He had also asked for Ponting to be sacked.