The Board’s clearance came after a late night meeting of the Working Committee which, however, made it clear that the ban against ace spinner Harbhajan Singh was “totally unacceptable” and authorised President Sharad Pawar to deploy all resources to clear him of the “obnoxious and baseless” racist charge.
The two-hour meeting came after the ICC announced the sacking of controversial umpire Steve Bucknor from doing duty in the current series and allowing Harbhajan to play in the Test series pending a decision on his appeal.
“The Working Commitee of BCCI took note of relevant circumstances and developments and decided that the Indian team’s tour to Australia should continue for the present.
“The BCCI will review the tour and all other developments continuously. BCCI will request the ICC Appeals Commissioner, appointed to hear Harbhajan’s appeal, to expeditiously dispose of the appeal”, BCCI Treasurer N Srinivasan said in a statement read out after the meeting. He took no questions.
The decision appeared to have been a mere formality with the Board earlier in the day asking the Indian team, currently in Sydney, to go to Canberra for playing a three-day match against ACT XI.
The team, which was asked by the Board on Monday to stay put until further instructions pending ICC decision on its complaint against Bucknor and appeal on the ban, is expected to leave for Canberra on Wednesday morning.
Srinivasan said the Working Committee appreciated the positive role played by Cricket Australia and the ICC.
“The Working Committee fully and unequivocally endorsed the stand taken by the President and concerned officials with respect to the quality of umpiring and totally uncalled for, unjustified and blatantly illegal ban imposed on Harbhajan Singh by the match referee,” he said.
Srinivasan said the meeting also reiterated that the ban imposed on Harbhajan was “totally unacceptable”.

CLARIFICATION

Sachin denies sending SMS
New delhi, pti: Sachin Tendulkar has denied sending an SMS to BCCI chief Sharad Pawar requesting that the tour of Australia be suspended until the ICC lifts the ban on Harbhajan Singh.
“Sachin Tendulkar has not sent any SMS to Pawar on this issue. He had called up to clarify this point,” BCCI vice-president Rajiv Shukla said.
Media reports had said that Tendulkar sent an SMS to Pawar assuring him that the off-spinner was innocent and suggesting that India should play the third Test only if the punishment is revoked.