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On this day in 2008, the ‘Monkeygate’ scandal erupted between Harbhajan Singh and Andrew Symonds during the Sydney Test. An alleged racial comment controversy shook cricket.
Andrew Symonds and Harbhajan Singh later said “sorry” to each other and played together for Mumbai Indians in the Indian Premier League. (File pic)
On This Day In 2008: If we look at the history of the Border Gavaskar trophy, the ‘Monkeygate scandal’ remains one of the most infamous events. In an already umpiring controversy-marred match, it all started with a heated stand-off between Indian spinner Harbhajan Singh and Australian all-rounder Andrew Symonds, when India toured Australia to play a four-match Test series in December 2007.
In the second match at the Sydney Cricket Ground, Harbhajan and Symonds engaged in a war of words, which later resulted in a huge “racism controversy”.
The incident unfolded on Day 3 during India’s first innings.
Harbhajan batted brilliantly and stitched a 100-plus partnership with Sachin Tendulkar.
The Indian spinner smashed a boundary off Brett Lee’s bowling and went on to console the Aussie pacer by patting on his back.
The gesture didn’t go down well with Symonds, who was heard on the stump mic, saying, “We don’t need it, do it to your own teammates.”
Harbhajan didn’t hold back as well.
He stared down Symonds while uttering some words. The on-field umpire, Mark Benson, intervened to stop the verbal exchange and gave a stern warning to Harbhajan.
It was later learnt the Australian cricketers complained about Harbhajan allegedly making a racial remark – monkey – targeting Symonds.
The hearing for the incident was initially set to take place at the end of the fourth day’s play but was postponed until after the match to avoid causing further tension or distractions for the players.
Mike Procter, who was assigned to oversee the case, noted that the umpires had not heard anything related to the allegations.
After the fifth day’s play, Procter conducted the hearing, listening to testimonies from Hayden, Symonds, Ponting and Gilchrist, as well as Tendulkar and Harbhajan. Following the proceedings, Procter concluded that Harbhajan would face a three-match Test ban.
In his final report, Mike Procter stated, “I believe one group is telling the truth,” suggesting Tendulkar and Harbhajan’s accounts were not credible.
The Indian team strongly protested the decision as there was no evidence of Harbhajan making any racial comment.
The BCCI even threatened to pull out of the series. New Zealand High Court judge John Hansen later conducted a formal hearing and Harbhajan was found not guilty.
Tendulkar appeared at Adelaide’s Federal court as a witness. According to him, Harbhajan said a Hindi word which might be offensive but not racial. The ban was overturned and Harbhajan was fined 50 per cent of his match fee.
Symonds and Harbhajan later said “sorry” to each other and played together for Mumbai Indians in the Indian Premier League after the latter joined in 2011. The duo won the 2011 Champions League T20 as part of the franchise.
- Location :
Sydney, Australia
