'If Hair tries to damage my reputation, I'll seek legal action'

Harbhajan Singh has threatened to take legal action against controversial former Australian umpire Darrell Hair if he continues to damage his reputation by making provocative comment that youngsters with suspect action have made him a role model. 

"I have no time for Darrell Hair's nonsense. Who the hell is he? Is he bigger than the ICC? But if he tries to damage my reputation or belittle my achievements as an international cricketer with another provocative comment, I will be speaking to BCCI (Board of Control for Cricket in India) and seek legal action against Hair," an angry Harbhajan said. 

Hair, in a recent interview to an Australian newspaper, said, "I said it in the late '90s that if something wasn't done about it you'd have a generation of chuckers on your hands and now you have. They try to emulate Harbajan Singh and Saqlain Mushtaq and Murali and that's the problem".

'I have undergone bio-mechanics tests'

From the start of his career there is no love lost between Harbhajan and the Australians, but what he disliked about Hair's comment was his idea of trying to paint everyone with the same brush. 

"Just because three for four international bowlers' action has been found suspect, who gives him (Hair) the right to put everyone in the same bracket. Those who have problems with their action will undergo corrective measures. 

"Well, I have undergone bio-mechanics test at Perth in Australia in 2005 under (Daryl) Foster as well as in England under Fred Titmus in 1999. ICC has all my reports and this former umpire tries to malign my reputation.

"It has taken 14 years of rigorous hard work to attain a level and some random man can't spoil that," said the spinner, who has 413 Test and 259 ODI wickets for India.

'Why didn't Mr Hair challenge the ICC then?'

Harbhajan said he is proud of being one of the pioneers in successful execution of the doosra or the wrong 'un.

"Saqlain Mushtaq invented the doosra and I perfected the art. I am proud of having successfully executed the doosra. If some bowlers are not being able to bowl doosra within legal limits, it is not my look-out," said the 34-year-old bowler, who is aiming to make a comeback into the Indian team for the Australian tour. 

"Let me put a question for Mr Hair. He has officiated in a number of international matches in which I have bowled. Why didn't he challenge the ICC then? Just when three bowlers are called, he wakes up and makes a random comment. He could not because he knew there was nothing wrong. 

"And what does he mean by role models like Murali, Saqlain or Harbhajan? Did we teach them to bowl with suspect action?" he fumed.

'I am hopeful of making it in the Indian team'

"The bio-mechanics test that I underwent captures 130 frames for single movement. They capture skeleton movement where the flexion angle is detected.

"There was a thorough test done and everything was cleared after that," said India's third highest wicket-taker in Test cricket and 10th highest in the leading wicket-takers' list in world cricket. 

He is now getting ready for North Zone's Duleep Trophy semi-final against Central Zone, which will be played in Mohali from October 22 to 25.

"I am fighting and working hard to make a comeback. I am hopeful of making it in the Indian team for tour of Australia, and confident of doing well in the upcoming domestic matches," concluded the senior offie.