Former ICC match referee Mike Procter, who had imposed a three-match ban on Harbhajan Singh following the ‘Monkeygate' scandal in the 2008 Sydney Test between India and Australia, regrets what had happened then but insists he would not have handled it any differently.
Procter was match referee for the infamous Test, in which Harbhajan was reportedly found guilty of making a racist comment to Andrew Symonds.
“I regret what happened. I wouldn't have handled it any different. Saw that whole hearing. Match referee isn't a judge. A lot of things had happened. The word racist wasn't comfortable, no one was comfortable with it either.
“It happened to Australia in India as well. I had to do what I honestly had to do. I couldn't change who was guilty. I was honest to myself. I had to do my job as well. I went to the Indian and Australian dressing rooms. I had to get the balance right,” said Procter.
Procter ruled at the end of a four-hour hearing that Harbhajan had breached Level 3 of the ICC's Code of Conduct.
The Indian team management then appealed against the ban and charges were subsequently dropped by judge John Hansen.
Procter, who played just seven Tests in his career because of the ban on South Africa, agreed that the episode took a toll on him.
“Yes, it did take a toll as it was too hot for me, but then I was offered a job as the chairman of selectors and that's when I sort of changed jobs,” said the 65-year-old.
Procter, meanwhile, said Gary Kirsten would be able to replicate the success of the Indian team with South Africa. “He is a good individual. What he did with the Indian team was incredible. He is a humble guy and he helps the players a lot. He manages people very well.”
Speaking about the dearth of genuine fast bowlers in world cricket at the moment, Procter said injuries were prompting the pacers to cut down on their run-ups.
“We never had the problem of over rates. Now there is a problem. No one had a run-up like mine. There are no fast bowlers now. Dale (Steyn) isn't an ultra fast bowler. There is no one like Andy Roberts, (Dennis) Lillie and (Jeff) Thompson. Sadly, we are into an era where there are no genuine fast bowlers. One of the major reasons for it is injuries.”
