Mike Procter

Calcutta: The body language of Match Referee Mike Procter during Sunday night’s disciplinary hearing in Sydney had been such that it appeared he was “under pressure” to punish Harbhajan Singh.

“Procter, clearly, looked under pressure to act... That impression was unmistakable,” somebody who attended the hearing told The Telegraph.

Harbhajan, as it turned out, got banned for three Tests when the one-time South African allrounder and coach held him guilty of hurling a racist abuse at Andrew Symonds.

Speaking on Tuesday afternoon, the gentleman added: “I wouldn’t like to speculate on the reason, but Procter’s behaviour could’ve had something to do with an incident in the lead-up to the second Test (at the SCG)...”

Procter declined to comment. Contacted in Sydney, he merely said: “I don’t wish to say anything except that the last two days have been distressing... I hope you understand it’s a delicate time.”

Tough times is more like it. For, soon after Procter spoke to this newspaper, he learnt that Chief Referee Ranjan Madugalle would join him before the next Test (in Perth) as “facilitator.”

At the very least, it’s a lack of confidence in him from the International Cricket Council (ICC).

The “incident” between the first (MCG) and second Tests, one learns, relates to Procter being ticked off by ICC chief executive Malcolm Speed for giving Yuvraj Singh a clean chit.

Yuvraj, who’d stood his ground in the first innings at the MCG, was charged with showing dissent but Procter accepted his plea that he’d shown “disappointment” and not dissent.

That didn’t amuse Speed.

Talking exclusively during the SCG Test, Speed said: “I’ve had a chat with Procter... I’m not in favour of redefining dissent. If a batsman waits at the crease after being given out then it’s dissent, not disappointment.”

Nothing stops the chief executive from having a word with any Match Referee, but the ticking off would’ve put Procter under pressure to act in the next hearing involving an Indian.

Speed has, over the years, been viewed with suspicion by the Indian Board and the present regime played its part in ensuring the Australian didn’t get another extension.

So, later this year, the ICC will have a new chief executive and some with big influence are lobbying for an Asian to succeed Speed.

Footnote: That Procter disregarded the “independent testimony” of on-field umpires Steve Bucknor and Mark Benson, both of whom maintained they hadn’t heard the word “monkey,” will form an integral part of Harbhajan’s strong counter to the ban.