Union minister Sharad Pawar, who happens to be the BCCI president and likely to take control of International Cricket Council (ICC) in coming four-five months, has said that the threat of India coming back from Australia by terminating the tour was not a propaganda but real.

The Indian cricket team, which was touring Australia, had decided to come back if the ICC did not lift the ban on spinner Harbhajan Singh.

Sharad Pawar has confirmed the reports saying that the board has empowered him to take any decision in this matter.

‘The Herald Sun’ quoted Pawar saying as, “Let’s see what happens, but allegations of racism against a member of our cricket team are not acceptable. After the meeting, we then will take action.”

He said in an interview with ‘The Herald Sun’:

Board has empowered me to decide whatever necessary in this matter. I will only use the power in support of Harbhajan for the rest of the country. There will be an ICC committee hearing. We are confident that in the hearing he will be cleared.

Pawar also said that Sachin Tendulkar, who was at the ground with Harbhajan at the ground, wouldn’t tell lie. According to him, Sachin is a great and respected player and the board has complete faith in his words.

On the other hand, an ICC spokesman has said it will take more than seven days in hearing into Harbhajan’s appeal by ICC panel. The ICC has appointed New Zealand’s High Court judge John Hansen as Appeals Commissioner to hear the appeal.

Earlier, The ICC match raferee Mike Procter had slapped a three-Test ban on Harbhajan Singh for allegedly making racial remarks against Andrew Symonds. The bad umpiring in the Sydney Test and the ban on Harbhajan outraged the Indian players, Board and Indians fans everywhere. The Indian players had later threatened to skip the tour if ICC didn’t lift the ban slapped on Harbhajan.

BCCI also supported Indian team and forced ICC to remove Umpire Steve Buckner from rest of the ongoing series. The ICC also froze the ban till further hearing and appointed chief referee Ranjan Madugalle as a catalyst to ease the tension between both the teams.

On January 8, the BCCI working committee members gave BCCI president Pawar a free hand to take any decision to get Harbhajan out of the baseless accusation of ‘racial abuse’ controversy.

At the same time, ICC chief Malcom Speed has now warned India to commit to completing the Test series and abide by any ruling in coming days.