Kumble denies Harbhajan race slur

India captain Anil Kumble has insisted for the first time that Harbhajan Singh did not make a racist comment towards Andrew Symonds during the second Test.

Harbhajan was banned for three matches after being found guilty of calling Australian batsman Symonds a "monkey".

Is this really a problem in Cricket, or is this more over sensitive political correctness?

I think there is a real problem in cricket. I also think, from what I've heard on TV, that something good will come out of this. A bit of banter has always been commonplace in cricket, but sledging is not allowed. Where is the line between banter and offence? That is what will have to be addressed in the near future.
Racism in cricket is not acceptable, like in any sport, but cricket is played by so many different races at the highest level. This makes it even more critical to stamp it out.
It cant just be a case of PC, because Symonds would have to have been genuinely offended to complain to his captain and the umpire. The whole situation has blown out of proportion with India threatening to boycott the tour and all the rest. What needs to happen is for the players to get on with the game of cricket, and for the powers that be to address the rules of the game to underline what is acceptable and what isn't, with more clarity.

Redcanuck wrote:

India captain Anil Kumble has insisted for the first time that Harbhajan Singh did not make a racist comment towards Andrew Symonds during the second Test.

Harbhajan was banned for three matches after being found guilty of calling Australian batsman Symonds a "monkey".

Is this really a problem in Cricket, or is this more over sensitive political correctness?

how ironic he comes out saying that - after he pleaded Ricky Ponting not to take the incident to the match officials - why we would he beg Punter not to grass?
Something mustve been said.
Sledging and Banter has been around for a long time - I do it myself - but their are boundaries you dont cross, and being raicist is one of those.
It creates competition and fires people up - lets just take our very own KP for example - he loves to give out and gets even more fired up when someone says something to him - it brings out the passion in what is generally regarded as a "passionless" sport (in comparison to say football for example)
India are throwing all their toys out the pram with threatening a boycott of the tour - but with Harbhajan seemingly going to be allowed to play the final 2 tests due to his appeal date being after the series it really is going to be an interesting spectacle (despite play starting at 0230)