The Board of Control for Cricket in India on Tuesday said sledging during the controversy-ridden tour of Australia is going "out of hand" after opener Matthew Hayden's attack on Harbhajan Singh calling him an "obnoxious little weed."
BCCI secretary Niranjan Shah said matters are going "out of hand and is going too far."
He said sledging has set a bad example for young cricketers and the ICC had recently discussed the issue. They are considering a ban on sledging and empowering the on-field umpires to slap penalties on errant players, Shah added.
"We don't want to react and make a controversy in this matter. It is best to ignore such comments which are not good for the game," Shah told NDTV.
Former India cricketer Ajay Jadeja said it is best to ignore sledging.
Speaking on Brisbane radio, Hayden said "It's been a bit of a long battle with Harbhajan, the first time I ever met him he was the same little obnoxious weed that he is now.
Shah said the ICC "had recognised this problem that the youngsters are learning bad things and it is getting too frequent, which is not good for the game."
He said the world body has to discuss what steps need to be taken in this regard.
"We have proposed that there should be no unnecessary talk with opponents on the field and umpires should be given more power and there should be stricter penalties," the BCCI secretary said.
Shah said the BCCI always advises the Indian players to exercise restraint and not lose control.
Meanwhile, BCCI vice-president Rajiv Shukla said it is up to the Indian team management in Australia to take a view on Hayden's remarks.
"So, the team management will definitely get into it. They will take a view and then they will let us know," Shukla said.
He said the remarks had shown Hayden in poor light.
"He is being seen in bad light and not Harbhajan Singh," he added.
Asked if the Indian players should opt for "eye-for-an-eye" policy against the Australians, Shukla said "I would appeal to them not to do that because a series is going ahead in a very conducive atmosphere. And I think the game must go on".
Comments by one or two individuals should not affect the game, he said.
