India will resume their suspended tour of Australia but will continue to protest a ban on spinner Harbhajan Singh for racial abuse during the second Test in Sydney, the Indian cricket board (BCCI) said on Tuesday.
The BCCI laid the condition that the player should eventually be cleared of the charge and a three-match ban issued by the International Cricket Council (ICC) dropped, a statement said.
The Indian media manager, MV Sridhar, told the media in Sydney that the board will use all their "good offices" to urge ICC to expedite the process and clear the charges in the next seven days.
The threat to pull out of the tour remained, with a one-day tri-series to follow the four tests, if the ICC rejected the appeal against Harbhajan's ban, the BCCI said.
After two days of drama, the Indian squad are finally set to leave Sydney for Canberra to play in a warm-up game starting on Thursday, ahead of the third test in Perth.
The Indian board held an emergency meeting after the ICC removed umpire Steve Bucknor for the third Test in Perth and appointed ICC chief referee Ranjan Madugalle to mediate between the two teams.
"The working committee of the BCCI took note of all relevant circumstances and developments and decided that the Indian team tour to Australia should continue 'for the present'," the statement issued by board secretary Niranjan Shah said.
"The ICC has clarified to the board that Harbhajan Singh could play till the final disposal of the appeal. This is only an interim arrangement.
"The BCCI is of the categorical view that the matter will have to be finally resolved and the unfair allegation against an Indian player be set aside/withdrawn.
"The BCCI will review the tour and all other developments continuously," the statement added.
The tour looked in serious trouble after India lost the Sydney test, marred by many umpiring errors, and were incensed by the charges laid against Harbhajan.
Indian skipper Anil Kumble also accused the Australian players of lacking a sporting approach and the squad then refused to proceed to Canberra for the next tour game until Harbhajan was cleared of the charges.
Harbhajan was found guilty by ICC match referee Mike Procter following a complaint by Australian skipper Ricky Ponting to match officials that the spinner had racially abused all-rounder Andrew Symonds.
The Indian board said it would also request the ICC appeals commissioner to "expeditiously dispose of the appeal" lodged by Harbhajan. A date is yet to be set for the hearing.
