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Harbhajan: Aussie fans love me
11/03/2008 18:00 - (SA)
New Delhi - Indian spinner Harbhajan
Singh said Australian fans love him despite his clashes with the
home players during the tour which ended last week.
"They are a great team and that is why it made our victory
special, beating the world champions in their own backyard,"
Harbhajan told India's NDTV in an interview telecast on Tuesday.
"I firmly believe that deep down inside Australians love
me...They always like a fighter," he said. The channel provided
an English transcript of the interview conducted in Hindi.
Harbhajan was at the centre of several disputes with
Australian players during the tour, where India lost the Test
series 2-1 but ended on a high after taking the tri-series
finals 2-0.
He was banned for three Tests for making an alleged racial
remark against Andrew Symonds during the second Test in Sydney
but the suspension was overturned on appeal and reduced to a
fine after the charge was downgraded.
The Australian board then reprimanded opener Matthew Hayden
after he called Harbhajan an "obnoxious weed" during a radio
interview.
The Indian board directed the bowler on Sunday against
making controversial media comments after Cricket Australia (CA)
demanded action against Harbhajan for attacking Hayden and Adam
Gilchrist in an interview on his return home.
Light-heartedly challenge
However, Harbhajan could not resist commenting on Hayden,
who had also light-heartedly challenged teenage fast bowler
Ishant Sharma to join him in the boxing ring.
"I read somewhere that Hayden challenged Ishant Sharma to a
boxing bout. But, from what I saw on the cricket field Ishant
beat Hayden in that boxing match."
Asked whether he fancied taking on the well-built Hayden in
the ring, Harbhajan said: "No way, you can't match the
Australians as far as strength is concerned.
"But yes, if he managed two punches on me I would also land
at least one punch on him."
- Reuters
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