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He either did it or he didn't. And now we know the answer - at least to a certain degree. Indian off-spinner Harbhajan Singh was cleared of racially abusing Australian counterpart Andrew Symonds but was pronounced guilty of "abusing" him.
The term abuse has wide ranging parameters and it would be fascinating to know how the judge, deliberating on the case, effected the final cut before passing his sentence. Of course, far be it for the defence and prosecution to fathom that as the trial was being conducted, the Indian cricket board issued a brazen threat that should their star spinner be found guilty the tour would be called off.
A highly publicised Twenty20 game, followed by a tri-nation tournament lay in the balance and, along with it, millions of dollars in revenue for Cricket Australia. Small wonder that Australian captain Ricky Ponting requested a downgrading of charges. Meanwhile, Harbhajan lives to fight another day.
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