"Why was Symonds let off?"

Indian speedster Ishant Sharma has been found guilty of a level one offence under 1.6 of the ICC Code of Conduct and has been fined 15 percent of his match fee for gesticulating towards the pavilion after dismissing Australia's Andrew Symonds.

Following the decision of the Match Referee - Jeff Crowe - the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) maintained that lshant was provoked into acting, and has asked the referee to tell the Aussies to avoid provoking players with their behavior. It is also learnt that Team India's management has written a letter to the match referee appealing for curb on sledging.

However when TIMES NOW caught up with the BCCI Vice President Rajiv Shukla, he said such issues should be resolved on the ground and he saw no reason why the BCCI should get involved.

"Well, so far BCCI has not lodged any protest I can tell you. But initially, after the past controversy it had been decided that these issues must be resolved at the grounds only. So I think the team management and the match referee and the players among themselves could resolve this problem. If the decision is on the basis of a fair judgement and fair hearing, I don't see why the BCCI should get into it. I think certain things must be left to the wisdom of the Match Referee," said Shukla.

The ODI at Sydney between India vs Australia saw yet another controversy involving Andrew Symonds. In the Australian innings of 317, the Australian all-rounder Andrew Symonds made a quick fire 59. Just when he was looking dangerous he was dismissed by Indian rising star Ishant Sharma as Symonds was foxed by a slower delivery.

In a very unsportsmanlike behaviour, Symonds first reacted to his dismissal after which Ishant Sharma retaliated by showing Symonds his way back to the pavilion.

The Australian captain Ricky Ponting who was at the non-striker's end was believed to have told the umpire to talk to Team India regarding Ishant's gesture. Umpire Daryl Harper was seen doing just that. Soon, Darly Harper was seen having a word with M S Dhoni and his men.

Level 1.6 of the ICC Code of Conduct states that "Pointing or gesturing towards the pavilion in an aggressive manner by a bowler or another member of a fielding side on the dismissal of a batsman" is an offence.

TIMES NOW has learnt that Team India's Management has written a letter to match referee Jeff Crowe appealing for curb on sledging. Sources say the team is dissappointed that the Australian all-rounder Andrew Symonds was let off without any action.

Meanwhile the Australian skipper Ricky Ponting has tried to downplay the entire incident saying, "Probably there is something in the water (here, Sydney), but one should not make too much of these altercations." Dhoni, however, has tried to stay away from commenting on the issue saying that Symonds or Ishant knows the best, but added that he had asked Ishant to cool down.

Are the Aussies playing dirty again?

There's something about Sydney that brings out the worst in Andrew Symonds - the senior pro was seen having a go at the new kid on the block Ishant Sharma mouthing filthy expletives. Ishant, looking slightly taken aback, had reason to feel aggrieved as all he did was get Symonds out.

His mate on the other end, the Aussie captain Ricky Ponting perhaps realising that Symonds was in the wrong, quickly jumped in to retrieve the situation. Incredibly, he went up to the umpires and asked them to control poor Ishant.

Indian cricket fans cannot be blamed for finding all this a familiar sight. It was just like this a month ago at the same venue - the Sydney Oval. At that time, it was Harbhajan; now it is Ishant Sharma, and both are involved in an incident with Symonds.

It is interesting how the Aussies target the one player who they have the most to fear from on the field. Once again, it is Ponting who gets the umpires on the field to issue a warning.

Once again the Aussies succeed in getting players in trouble with the referee - earlier it was Mike Denesse this time it is Jeff Crowe. Harbhajan was slapped with a serious charge of racism and now Ishant has been targeted by the match referee this time for gesturing towards the pavilion.

The latest incident promises to raise as much of a stink as the ugly Symonds-Harbhajan exchange did during the tests, and it raises some big questions too:

TIMES NOW demands to know:

Why has the Match Referee only charged Ishant Sharma?

Should India seek an explanation from the ICC as to why Crowe has acted selectively?

Why is no action being taken against Symonds who delights in abusing the spirit of the game?

Is the Match Referee going by the field umpire's word, who is also an Australian?

Will the BCCI file a complaint against Andrew Symonds?

Newspaper commentary

Newspapers around India have been abuzz with news about this latest spat. The Times of India says:

'After Bhajji,, it's Symonds vs Ishant?'

The Aussie all-rounder muttered belligerently at Ishant Sharma after being clean bowled by the tall lanky bolwer. Not one to take things lying down, Ishant too gave it back and even signalled towards the pavilion, indicating where exactly Symonds should be headed."