India worst-behaved team: Australian media
Agencies
Posted online: Sunday , January 13, 2008 at 12:10:06
Updated: Sunday , January 13, 2008 at 12:25:14

Melbourne, January 13:

While Ricky Ponting and his teammates continue to cop criticism for their abrasive demeanour on the field, the indomitable Australian media went on a counter-attack and compiled a rap chart to claim that India is the worst-behaved team under the sun.
The Sunday Telegraph painstakingly collected and collated official ICC data, which shows India having faced more sanctions than any other Test playing nation in the past 10 years.

The daily also took a jibe at former India captain Sourav Ganguly, dubbing him "the game's undisputed problem child, being hauled over the coals by cricket's governing body a record 12 times in his international career."

"Overall, Indian players have been charged for 43 infringements since 1997, for offences including intimidating umpires, abusing rival players, ball tampering, time wasting and widespread dissent," it said.

The report pointed out that of the current touring party, five Indians players -- Ganguly, Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid, Virender Sehwag and Harbhajan Singh -- have either been fined or suspended in the past.

"The rap sheet is evidence the Indians are anything but cricketing choirboys as they continue to deny spinner Harbhajan is guilty of racially abusing all-rounder Andrew Symonds," it said.

The newspaper also made an in-depth analysis of the ICC's code of conduct breaches, which shows Pakistan coming close to "India's ill-discipline" with 39 offences, led by former skipper Inzamam-ul-Haq, who has 11 reprimands against his name.

This is all relative. Everyone respects the winner.