New Delhi (PTI): India on Saturday night said there is no threat to its cricket tour of Australia but asserted there is no change in its basic position on the Harbhajan issue.

Reacting to reports that India has withdrawn its threat to quit the tour if off-spinner Harbhajan Singh's ban is not reversed during the appeal hearing, BCCI vice-president Rajiv Shukla said the question of withdrawal does not arise when a threat itself has never been made.

Shukla said it is BCCI's desire that the hearing is got over with before the start of the one-day tri-series next month. The hearing is expected to take place before the start of the third Test at Perth on Januay 16.

The off-spinner was banned for three Tests for allegedly making a racist comment to Australian all-rounder Andrew Symonds in the second Test in Sydney.

BCCI president Sharad Pawar was quoted as having said in Kolkata on Friday that there's no question of a pullout.

"The series will not be affected. We are focussed on fighting Harbhajan's case but it all should be within the game," Pawar had told reporters. He however maintained that the allegations of racism against Harbhajan was not acceptable.