IANS

Sydney, Jan 13 (mb): It now transpires that Indian off-spinner Harbhajan Singh may have used a colloquial Punjabi curse that sounds suspiciously like 'monkey' during his spat with Andrew Symonds, making the Australian cricketer misinterpret it as a racial abuse.

The tourists may argue at Harbhajan's appeal hearing that what he said cannot be termed a racial slur but was a commonly mouthed abuse, used more in reflex in Punjab and northern India. While this defence may land him in hot water for being abusive on the field, it may clear him of the more serious charge of racial villification.

A date for Harbhajan's appeal hearing before New Zealand High Court judge John Hansen is yet to be decided.

Australian Brad Hogg will have his case heard in Perth on Monday for allegedly calling Indian captain Anil Kumble and vice-captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni 'bastards' during the second Test in Sydney.

Australia will argue the term 'bastard' does not insult a person's descent after Hogg, like Harbhajan, was charged under section 3.3 of the International Cricket Council's (ICC) code of conduct during the drama-filled Sydney Test.

While Hogg is expected to admit he used the term 'bastard', Harbhajan maintains he never said 'monkey'.

"He didn't say that. He is not a racist, but maybe he said something else," an Indian official admitted on Friday.

It is unclear whether Harbhajan used his Punjabi defence in his initial hearing on Monday, but Symonds and teammates Matthew Hayden and Michael Clarke are adamant they heard the 'monkey' gibe, reports Herald Sun.