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Legendary India spinner Bishan Singh Bedi is at it again, his favourite pastime, picking bowlers with unfair bowling action. He does not spare anyone, even his countryman Harbhajan Singh.

He branded Harbhajan a chucker and blasted the International Cricket Council (ICC) for ignoring what he believes is a greater blight on cricket than match-fixing scandal. Bedi previously has been so outspoken about Muttiah Muralitharan’s action that the Sri Lankan threatened a multimillion-dollar lawsuit against him. But now he has included Harbhajan on his hit-list.

“He (Harbhajan) is not any different,” Bedi told The Sunday Age. “ICC is turning a blind eye to both of them. They are blind to this monstrous problem and it is unfair and undesirable. “It is not something to be ignored. A lot of people have questioned Harbhajan’s action and they are right too. He has the same problem as Murali,” former Indian captain and coach said.

“This is cricket’s greatest tragedy. Match-fixing was disgraceful but no one knew about it, so nothing could be done. Throwing is being allowed to happen in front of 30,000 and 40,000 people,” said Bedi, who took 266 wickets in 67 Tests.

“Chucking is a bigger disgrace than match-fixing because it is done out in the open. It is scourge of cricket and must be stopped. Harbhajan is also surviving on 15-degree allowance. They’re having a ball, these bowlers.

“And young bowlers on the subcontinent are coming through and are copying actions of Harbhajan and Muralitharan. These boys will be Test cricketers one day and ICC is going to have hell of a problem,” he said. Harbhajan arrives in Australia shortly as spearhead of Indians slow bowling attack that includes skipper Anil Kumble and Murali Kartik.

Harbhajan was spared much of scathing criticism directed at Murali partly as he’s less successful, but 241 wickets from 58 Tests is still a formidable record. His action is not as blatant as Murali’s but it will struggle to be legal without 15-degree law.

Source:Cricket News

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