Spinner Singh cleared of racial abuse

India spinner Harbhajan Singh has been cleared of racial abuse after the charges against him were dropped.

He was originally suspended for three matches after being found guilty of racially abusing Australian all-rounder Andrew Symonds during the second test.

The Indian cricket board (BCCI) said the more serious charge of racial abuse had been downgraded to a lesser charge of using abusive language at an appeal hearing in Adelaide.

Board secretary Niranjan Shah said: "The racial abuse charges have been dropped. It is finished. The punishment is only for using obscene language."

There were fears the tour might be cancelled after Indian officials demanded the International Cricket Council (ICC) overturn its decision to suspend Harbhajan for three games.

However, the crisis was averted when independent New Zealand high court judge John Hansen dismissed the charge after a five-and-a-half-hour hearing at Adelaide's Federal Court.

Hansen ruled that there was not enough evidence to convict Harbhajan of racial abuse but charged him with the lesser offence of using abusive language.

Harbhajan pleaded guilty and was fined half his match fee but is clear to play in the triangular one-day series with Australia and Sri Lanka.

Cricket Australia spokesman Peter Young said the Australians were pleased with the outcome and happy to put the incident behind them.

"All parties will move on with the cricket. The game is the important thing," he added.

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