Anil Kumble

Calcutta: The Team India seniors have, for now, agreed to continue with the ongoing Test series in Australia but will make themselves unavailable for next month’s tri-series if the Harbhajan Singh issue isn’t satisfactorily resolved by then.

“That’s the understanding reached between the seniors and the Board president, Sharad Pawar, who’d asked them to have faith in him and the Board,” a top source told The Telegraph on Saturday evening.

The Test series ends in Adelaide on January 28 and India’s first match in the tri-series (with Sri Lanka being the third team), against Australia, is in Brisbane on February 3.

It’s almost certain that Harbhajan’s appeal isn’t going to be heard by the International Cricket Council (ICC)-appointed Appeals Commissioner John Hansen during the four-Test series.

Apparently, Cricket Australia (CA) has a hand in the process being delayed.

Harbhajan has been slapped a three-Test ban by Match Referee Mike Procter, allegedly for calling Andrew Symonds a “monkey” in the Sydney Test.

As reported in these columns, Anil Kumble and Co. had (initially) been firm about not playing in the Perth Test, from Wednesday, if Harbhajan’s appeal wasn’t disposed of by then.

“Convincing the seniors wasn’t easy, but a crisis has been avoided… However, they remain incensed that Harbhajan has been branded a racist… If the issue is prolonged, then they won’t play the tri-series,” the top source added.

While Test captain Kumble has retired from ODIs, the other seniors — Sachin Tendulkar, Sourav Ganguly, Rahul Dravid, V.V.S. Laxman, Virender Sehwag, Yuvraj Singh and Mahendra Singh Dhoni — are all available for selection.

Dhoni, in fact, has been the ODI (and Twenty20 captain) from last September.

In a related development, Pawar has directed the Board’s joint-secretary, Mohinder Pandove, to head for Perth.

“We need a senior Board official to be on the ground there, just in case the next few days again become critical,” the top source pointed out.

While Team India reach Perth on Sunday afternoon, Pandove (as also selectors Venkatapathi Raju and Ranjib Biswal) should get there on Monday.

Meanwhile, Pawar and CA chairman Creagh ’Connor will meet in Dubai on Monday, on the sidelines of an ICC conclave.

It’s to be seen if something comes of that, especially as many feel that nothing stops CA from getting Ricky Ponting to withdraw his complaint — even at this stage.