India shows 'nice gesture', drops Hogg off charges

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Perth, January 14:: Taking a moral high ground, India on Monday dropped charges against Australian spinner Brad Hogg, a gesture which would not only ease simmering tension between the two teams but could also have a bearing on Harbhajan Singh's appeal against a three-match ban.

The move, which was described as a "magnificent gesture" by Match Referee Mike Procter, followed a reconciliation meeting between two captains Anil Kumble and Ricky Ponting with ICC chief Match Referee Ranjan Madugalle playing the peace broker.

"From what happened with Ricky and I, we had a discussion with Ranjan and after that it was important that the game of cricket moved on.

"We decided as a team that we withdraw the charge made against Brad Hogg," Kumble told reporters, adding Hogg probably made the comment "in the heat of the moment".

"Cricket is larger than the individual and it was important that we forgot about what happened in Sydney as one of those bad moments and that it was time to move on," he said.

It was not known whether the decision to drop charges against Hogg was part of a peace deal with Ponting, nor was it clear whether the Australians would reciprocate by withdrawing the racist charge against Harbhajan.

Both captains, after the 45-minute meeting, declared the rest of the series would be played in "great spirit".

The meeting was held under a tight security cover and both the captains were seen laughing and joking together before the meeting.

Ponting and Kumble also pledged there would be no repeat of the second Test hereafter, not only in the Perth Test, beginning in Perth on Tuesday but also for the rest of the summer.

"Anil and I have just had a very productive meeting discussing a number of issues. We are really happy with the outcome," Ponting said.

"Both teams, more importantly, both captains have walked away really happy and we have decided here on this series will be played in great spirit as I think the first Test certainly was," he said.

Kumble, on his part, was more than happy to walk down the peace lane.

"It's very important cricket is played in the right spirit, it's time to move on," said the Indian captain.

Madugalle too was delighted at the spirit shown by the two captains.

"This was just one of those incidents. We are keen to have a fantastic series. It went well, both captains know they need to move forward," he said.