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Reporting of Harbhajan routine: Wright

Source:PTI
December 21, 2004 19:40 IST

The reporting of Harbhajan Singh's bowling action would not affect the morale of the team in the upcoming one-dayers, according to coach John Wright who said such matters had become "routine".

"It has become a routine. [Match Referee] Chris Broad mentions that a number of players have been reported in recent months," Wright said on the sidelines of team's practice session at the M A Aziz Stadium at Chittagong on Tuesday.

He also said the issue would not affect the team's morale during the three-match one-day series starting here on Thursday.

"Not really. I suppose the game has changed. There is a stigma attached to it, but rules have now been made to scientifically look at the issue [of suspect bowling action].

"He will go through the tests, and then the Board would make a decision, which hopefully would be in the player's interest," Wright said.

Harbhajan was reported for suspect action while bowling the 'doosra' during the second Test against Bangladesh this week by umpires Aleem Dar of Pakistan and Mark Benson of England, as also third umpire and Broad.

Wright said the off spinner as well as the team is "relaxed".

"Harbhajan and the whole team is pretty relaxed. It is one of those issues that are part and parcel of the game. He is fine, he is a normal Harbhajan Singh."

The coach said he was looking forward to the players repeating their Test performance in the one-day series.

"We want to try and replicate the performance of the Test series, we are looking for a 3-0 result."

The second and third matches are scheduled to be played under lights at Dhaka on December 26 and 27.

While the five players, who joined the team from India this morning, went through the nets, some of the seniors chose to stay away.

Sourav Ganguly and Rahul Dravid kept themselves to the hotel rooms, while Sachin Tendulkar went on a photo shoot with the crew of television channel ESPN-Star Sports.

But Virender Sehwag and Murali Karthik accompanied the one-day arrivals -- Yuvraj Singh, Dinesh Mongia, Mahendra Singh Dhoni, Ajit Agarkar, Sridharan Sriram and Joginder Sharma.

Source: PTI
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