Racist slur on Harbhajan unacceptable: BCCI

The Indian Cricket Board today slammed the charge of racial slur on Harbhajan Singh as "blatantly false" and described the three-test ban imposed by ICC Match Referee Mike Procter as "patently unfair" and unacceptable.

BCCI demanded immediate suspension of the ban on the off-spinner pending disposal of its appeal.

It also pointed out to the ICC that India had always stood against apartheid (practised in the past by South Africa) and for the Indian Cricket Board the anti-racial stance is "an article of faith."

"The Indian Board does not accept the findings of the Match Referee and has decided to challenge the unfair decision to suspend Harbhajan Singh as it deems it patently unfair," BCCI secretary Niranjan Shah said in a media statement.

"The Board will appeal to the International Cricket Council to review the decision of the Match Referee and suspend its operation till the appeal is disposed of.

"The Indian Board realises the game of cricket is paramount but so too is the honour of the Indian team and for that matter every Indian. To vindicate its position, the Board will fight the blatantly false and unfair slur on an Indian player," Shah said.

He has also termed the events during the second Test, lost by India at the Sydney Cricket Ground amidst woeful umpiring as a matter "of great concern" and said some of them can have a far-reaching impact on international cricket.