India have hinted at withdrawing a complaint against Australian Brad Hogg if the hosts drop a race charge against their spinner Harbhajan Singh.
NEW DELHI: India have hinted at withdrawing a complaint against Australian Brad Hogg if the hosts drop a race charge against their spinner Harbhajan Singh, reports said here on Sunday.
Spinner Hogg was charged with making an offensive remark to India captain Anil Kumble and vice-captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni during last week's controversy-scarred second Test in Sydney.
It followed a three-Test ban handed to Indian spinner Harbhajan after match referee Mike Procter of South Africa found the bowler had racially abused Australian batsman Andrew Symonds in the same Test.
"A senior member of the Tour party, however, hinted at a compromise wherein India would withdraw their complaint against Hogg if Australia did not push the Harbhajan case," a newspaper reported.
"Talks are on, I can't say more at this moment. You are free to interpret it the way you like," the newspaper quoted the senior member as saying in Canberra.
New Zealand judge John Hansen has been appointed as commissioner for Harbhajan's appeal against the racism charge.
In the meantime, Harbhajan will continue to play pending the verdict of the appeal.
The paper said some in the team management had confirmed they wanted the row over before the third Test, which starts in Perth on Wednesday.
"It should be done away with before the match because the players should not go into such a crucial game thinking about what might happen on this front," the paper quoted the senior member saying.
"We have always maintained that he (Harbhajan) didn't use any foul word and will continue doing so." The preliminary date for the Hogg hearing is set for Monday in Perth.
According to another daily, an Indian player revealed there had been secret meetings between Cricket Australia general manager of cricket operations, Michael Brown, and Indian team management in a bid to find a compromise.
"Yes, there have been meetings with Brown. We are very hopeful that a compromise can still be worked out even at this late stage.
"All they (Australia) have to do is to withdraw the complaint and we will be doing the same. But it is not easy and we are working towards it," the player was quoted as saying.
Indian officials were tight-lipped on any compromise scenario on Sunday, offering a stern "no comment".
India had put the four-Test tour on hold while they appealed the ban on Harbhajan, but their officials later decided to go ahead with it after world cricket chiefs intervened.
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