BCCI) and the team management refused comment on Cricket Australia's (CA) decision to let off Hayden with a reprimand for his comment on Harbhajan Singh.
SYDNEY: The Indian Cricket Board (BCCI) and the team management on Wednesday refused comment on Cricket Australia's (CA) decision to let off Matthew Hayden with a reprimand for his 'obnoxious weed' comment on Harbhajan Singh, saying it was CA's internal matter.
"We have nothing to do with what Cricket Australia is doing (on Hayden). We are here to play cricket and not get involved in what Hayden says," team manager Vimal Soni said in his first reaction after Hayden was let off with just a reprimand.
"He (Hayden) has done that off the field and that is not the prerogative of the Indian team. But, I want to make it clear that none of the players are feeling the pinch or any nervousness.
"Nobody is bothered about what Hayden has said and what CA has done on him. We are focusing on cricket only, to play the finals in Sydney and Brisbane," Soni said.
The BCCI also did not prefer to comment on CA's decision.
"Hayden made the comments off the field and we have nothing to comment on CA's decision on him (Hayden). That is CA's internal matter," BCCI Secretary Niranjan Shah told in Mumbai.
Soni said the controversies would not affect Harbhajan's game and the offie was in high spirits.
"He is a strong lad, has played 10 years of international cricket. He is strong enough to face all these onslaughts," Soni said.
The team manager said he had done his job by informing the match referee about the "provocative behaviour" of Australian players and it was upto the BCCI whether they wanted to take up the matter of on-field sledging with the ICC.
When asked what the team management would do if any flare-up happened in the finals, Soni said, "I won't answer hypothetical questions. We have informed the match referee about the provocation by Australian players. The BCCI is talking to Cricket Australia. What to do further on this matter will be handled by the board," he said.
On Harbhajan speaking to the media even after the team management had told the players not to react on the controversy, Soni blamed the media for unnecessarily trying to complicate matters.
"We have told players not to react. I am not aware of Harbhajan speaking to the media. If he had done so, he must have answered some basic questions," Soni added.
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