MCC's captain Sachin Tendulkar (4th L) and Rest of the World's captain Shane Warne (4th R) line up with teammates for pictures
MCC's captain Sachin Tendulkar (4th L) and Rest of the World's captain Shane Warne (4th R) line up with teammates for pictures before a cricket match to celebrate 200 years of Lord's at Lord's cricket ground in London July 5, 2014. REUTERS/Philip Brown

Sachin Tendulkar defended his former teammate Harbhajan Singh who had been banned during India's controversial tour of Australia in 2007-2008. He said that the three-match ban against Singh was not justified as Singh had not racially abused Australian cricketer Andrew Symonds.

The Indian cricketing legend, often termed as the greatest batsman ever, has released his autobiography "Playing It My Way" on November 6. He said in his book that Singh had not called Symonds a "monkey" even though there was an altercation between the two during the SCG test. He said that it was the Australian all-rounder who was responsible for provoking Singh continually. Tendulkar said that the verbal altercation was "inevitable," Nine MSN reported.

Tendulkar gave details of what exactly happened on that day. Symonds apparently did not like it when the Singh tapped Australian fast-bowler Brett Lee playfully on the back after he had completed a run. Symonds apparently started abusing Singh who, according to Tendulkar, was supposed to react because of his impulsive and passionate nature. Tendulkar said that he had tried calming Singh down. It was when Singh said "Teri maa ki" to Symonds. The expression related to one's mother is an incomplete abuse in Hindi language. Simply because it is incomplete with the chief word of abuse missing, it cannot technically be called an abuse. Tendulkar said that it was a common expression of anger in north India, which was "all part of the game."

Tendulkar wrote that match referee Mike Proctor indirectly had called him a liar during the post-match hearing. Proctor wrote that one of the groups was telling the truth. Proctor showed by banning Singh that he believed Tendulkar was lying on the matter. "It is never a pleasant thing to be called a liar and I was extremely angry," the former Indian captain wrote. He said that India was prepared to withdraw from the test series and deal with the consequences which might have included an ICC ban.

ESPN reported that Tendulkar was surprised to know how hastily the Australian cricketers had filed a formal complaint against Singh. They accused Singh of calling Symonds a "monkey," considered a racial abuse.

Contact the writer: s.mukhopadhyay@ibtimes.com.au