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BCCI tells players to behave on the field

New Delhi: Indian cricketers have been warned by the BCCI that it will take “serious view” if they behaved improperly or used abusive language on the field.

The warning comes in the backdrop of the racial abuse row involving off-spinner Harbhajan Singh and Australian all-rounder Andrew Symonds, which has resulted in the former being fined 50 per cent of his match fee.

“I don’t think that it is nice for an Indian player to use abusive language. They are ambassadors of the country. They should behave properly. We have told them the board will take serious view of any behaviour unbecoming of an Indian,” BCCI President Sharad Pawar said on Saturday.

Mr. Pawar also rejected allegations that the BCCI had used its financial clout to get a favourable verdict for Harbhajan, saying that the Board had not blackmailed anybody and that it was ICC’s decision.

‘Not blackmailed ICC’

“Australian media projected that we blackmailed the ICC by using our financial clout. We had not blackmailed ICC or anybody,” Mr. Pawar told Karan Thapar in ‘Devil’s Advocate’ programme on CNN-IBN.

“It is a bit funny after the matter was resolved; we have been accused of bulldozing the ICC. We have not issued a threat to pull out of the tour. So, where is the question of blackmailing anybody, leave alone ICC.” — PTI

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