ACA welcomes dropping of race abuse charges against Harbhajan

Melbourne, Jan 30 (UNI) Taking a radically different line from some of their compatriots, the Australian Cricketers' Association (ACA) has welcomed the dropping of racial abuse charges against Harbhajan Singh saying that ''now the issue has finally been settled so that the game could move on.'' ACA President Darren Lehmann hailed the settlment saying the crisis had been handled well and he was relieved that it had finally been settled so that the game could move on and added,''We are happy with the way it has been treated and handled.'' Lehmann was quoted as saying by 'AAP', a news agency here, ''That is done and dusted, so let's move on and play some cricket. It has all been done in the right channels,'' he added.

Harbhajan was absolved of charges of racially abusing Australian all-rounder Andrew Symonds in an Appeals hearing, which lifted a three-Test ban on the off-spinner, yesterday.

He was, however, fined 50 per cent of his match fee by the appeals commissioner for using abusive language against Symonds.

The diluted punishment has not been taken kindly by a section of the media and the players who alleged that Cricket Australia has caved in to the Indian Board's financial clout.

Lehmann said he had no idea how the other players have reacted to the decision but added,''I'd have to speak to Ricky, I'm not sure how he'd handle it. I presume he'd do the same thing, that is how they have been told to act and he acted accordingly,'' he said.

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