ICC prepares to schedule a hearing on Harbhajan Singh's appeal against the three-Test ban on him, since suspended, there is a strong opinion gathering ground in the Indian team that they should not play in the third Test in Perth if he is not cleared of the racism charge against him.
The players, who feel that Harbhajan is absolutely innocent, are insistent that this issue be sorted out before the third Test starting on January 16, according to reports emanating from the Indian camp late night.
The players welcome the removal of Steve Bucknor as umpire for the third Test and see the arrival of chief match referee Ranjan Madugalle as a good development.
The Indian team is aware that they could be viewed as a sulking unit for having stayed put in the team hotel for two days, dragging their feet on departure to Canberra and threatening to stop at nothing till Harbhajan is cleared.
But, the sources said, they are so incensed that they do not want to relent on the issue, sources said, adding they would await Cricket Board's decision on the issue.
Meanwhile, it was more or less confirmed that Indians would move to Canberra tomorrow for the three-day game starting there the next day.
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