|
Hayden regrets ‘weed’ remark
against Harbhajan Singh
WSN Network
 MELBOURNE:
Expressing deep regret over his "obnoxious weed" remark against
Punjab off- spinner Harbhajan Singh, Australian Test cricket opener
Matthew Hayden has said that he made a mistake and was keen to patch
up with the bowler. Hayden said he was very sad that his poor choice
of words added "fuel to the fire" as India's tour Down Under in the
summer was packed with controversies even before he made his
remarks, which were seen as insensitive against Singh on the basis
of his race and religion.
"I don't know
how Harbhajan is feeling but he made it clear how he feels about our
team. To put closure on my indiscretion (calling Harbhajan an
"obnoxious little weed"), I could have used a different choice of
words. In 15 years of cricket, I had a slip. It wasn't to disgrace
or denigrate Harbhajan," Hayden said.
"I could have
gone for a different turn of phrase. In the end all I did was put
fuel on a fire that already existed. It wasn't necessary. It was a
mistake," the burly Aussie opener told 'The Courier Mail.'
On Harbhajan
calling him a "big liar," Hayden said he would like to talk to the
offie and try to improve their relation.
"What I'd like
to is have a chat to Harbhajan when we get to India. I want to sit
down with him and see if there is any way we can move forward with
our relationship because it hasn't been great. I'd like to see where
he's at and see if we can patch up our differences. Frankly,
everyone is sick of it."
Hayden, however,
claimed that despite all the rows, the relationship between Indian
and Australian cricketers had not hit rock bottom.
 "No I don't
think so. Look, there's definite tension, but if I was a spectator,
that's what I'd want to see. Rodney Hogg said it best during the
summer when he said it's not tiddlywinks."
"If I was a fan
and I went to a game that was far from contrived but didn't have a
competitive edge, I'd be unimpressed straight away. There can be a
sense of hypocrisy there. You know, I cross myself when I get 100,
then I'm at first slip giving it to the Indians. At what point do
you cross the line?" Hayden said the Indians were "reasonably
pleasant" but very competitive throughout the series.
19
March 2008
|
Read Also