At the Sydney Test of January 2008, the match referee charged Harbhajan Singh over language alleged to be racially abusive toward the Australian Andrew Symonds and banned him for three Tests. India said it would “discontinue the tour pending the outcome of the appeal against the ban.”
On appeal, Judge John Hansen found “insufficient evidence for the racism charge.” Harbhajan was fined half his match fee. “Evidence given by Indian batsman Sachin Tendulkar was crucial to the success of spinner Harbhajan Singh’s appeal,” the New Zealand Herald reported.