Sport - Cricket

Hayden admits being insensitive

Melbourne: Australian opener Matthew Hayden has admitted being “insensitive” in making the ‘obnoxious little weed’ remark against Indian off-spinner Harbhajan Singh but said it was not against the spirit of cricket and did not warrant a reprimand.

“I can see that my comments were insensitive but they were not intended to be denigrating and especially not contrary to the spirit of cricket,” Hayden said. “The cricket environment I have grown up with is probably a little bit different from today,” the 37-year-old cricketer was quoted as saying by the Daily Telegraph.

Hayden expressed anguish at being reprimanded by Cricket Australia for his behaviour.

“It saddens me that my employer has to discipline me for my behaviour,” Hayden said.

CA rules do not allow its contracted players to make comments against opponent players or the Board and hence charged Hayden with breach of its code of behaviour, although let off with only a reprimand.

The Australian sporting greats have come down heavily on Cricket Australia officials, describing them as a bunch of cowards for reprimanding opener Matthew Hayden who just called “a spade a spade”.

Jeff Thomson said the CA had been “politically correct” in officially reprimanding Hayden while rugby player Tommy Raudonikis called its officials as “weak”. “Every time someone says something, some official pulls them in. I am sick of political correctness. Someone asked Hayden what he thought of Harbhajan and he gave his view. Aren’t you allowed to give an opinion any more?” Thomson was quoted by the Daily Telegraph. — PTI

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